Law enforcement apprehends ex-soldier plotting to kill HUR official

Investigations revealed that Russian intelligence agencies recruited a 38-year-old Kyiv resident and former military serviceman with combat experience to assassinate a HUR official. The suspect was promised $100,000 for the hit and received a $10,000 advance.

His target was the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War deputy chair Andrii Yusov, according to the Prosecutor General's Office.

The suspect meticulously studied the official's daily schedule, residence, vehicles, and surrounding infrastructure ahead of the planned strike.

After gathering intelligence, the suspect planned to execute the assassination using an FPV drone and began searching for a skilled operator to carry out the hit, according to the National Police.

Investigators revealed that the suspects used construction-themed code to hide their clandestine communications: they called the murder “construction work”, the client a “foreman”, the assassin a “worker” or “builder”, and the murder weapon a “tool” or “cement”.

Police officers detained the suspect and seized his mobile phones, GPS tracker, car, and other evidence.

He has been charged with conspiracy to commit premeditated murder under Part 2 of Article 115 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which carries a penalty of 10 to 15 years or life imprisonment.