Ukrainian security forces foiled assassination attempts against Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov and Intelligence Chief Kyrylo Budanov, detaining suspects in Kovel. The investigation revealed a plot orchestrated by Russian handlers targeting Ukrainian leadership.
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Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) prevented contract murders of Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov and Chief Intelligence Directorate Head Kyrylo Budanov.
Suspects were detained in Kovel, Volyn Oblast, by SSU counter-intelligence officers and Special Operations Centre "A".
The plot was arranged by a Luhansk resident involved with Russian side hostilities since 2014, acting on orders from Russian handlers offering $100,000-150,000 per kill.
Other potential targets included a leader of the National Corps and an advisor to a Ukrainian minister.
The Security Service of Ukraine detained Russian operatives linked to Russian special services who planned to assassinate Oleksii Reznikov and Kyrylo Budanov.
The detained men were promised up to $150,000 in reward for each kill.
Volyn region is preparing for potential invasion from Belarus and has drafted a civilian evacuation plan.
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Extraction metadata
Extracted: 2026-05-30T04:20:50.519Z
Source story: 7362368