SBU eliminates Russian GRU assassin, detains his accomplices plotting high-profile assassinations in Ukraine

Military counterintelligence, the Main Investigative Directorate, special forces from the Security Service’s Special Operations Center "A," and officers from the SBU Main Directorate in Donetsk and Luhansk regions have thwarted a new attempt by the enemy to commit a series of contract killings in Ukraine, specifically targeting volunteer Serhiy Sternenko and Russian citizen Ilya Bogdanov, who is fighting for Ukraine, the SBU reports.

"As a result of a special operation personally coordinated by First Deputy Head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) Oleksandr Poklad, a Russian military intelligence covert action group (better known as GRU) was neutralized and a killer who resisted arrest with a weapon was eliminated," the SBU said on its Telegram channel on Tuesday.

According to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), more than 10 other participants have been taken into custody.

The investigation established that the suspects were plotting the murders of prominent individuals in various regions of our country.

"Among them are Defense Minister Advisor and volunteer Serhiy Sternenko, as well as Russian citizen Ilya Bogdanov, who has been fighting for Ukraine since 2014," the SBU clarified.

The Ukrainian security services note that to commit the murders, the perpetrators tracked the addresses and routes of military personnel and public figures, and then sent the collected data to the group’s leader (resident).

"He turned out to be a forensic expert from Poltava recruited in the Russian Federation, who collected intelligence information and ‘reported’ to the Russian special services," the department noted.

Further, as noted by the SBU, the occupiers directly transmitted the data of potential victims to the liquidator agent, in particular, the residential addresses and travel routes of the "targets."

According to the case file, the killer originates from the temporarily occupied part of Donetsk region. There, he underwent combat training at a Russian GRU base and was subsequently transferred to Ukraine-controlled territory.

"It was established that he was supposed to manufacture improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and plant them under his victims’ cars or near their homes. If the explosion failed, the killer received instructions from his Russian handler to shoot the victims point-blank," the report says.

During searches, firearms, ammunition, voice recorders, computer equipment, and CCTV cameras with evidence of work for Russian intelligence services were seized from the defendants.

"The operation’s success was largely achieved thanks to the infiltration of enemy ranks and the active work of SBU counterintelligence officers in Poltava region, as well as a range of operational and combat operations in the temporarily occupied territory. The SBU’s sources have been located in government-controlled territory and are safe," the SBU emphasized.

Now, the Security Service investigators have notified the detainees of suspicion under several articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine: Part 2 of Article 28, Part 2 of Article 111 (high treason committed by prior conspiracy by a group of persons under martial law); Part 2 of Article 28, Part 7 of Article 111-1 (collaboration activity committed by prior conspiracy by a group of persons); Part 2 of Article 114-2 (unauthorized dissemination of information about the direction, movement or deployment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine or other military formations formed in accordance with the laws of Ukraine, committed under martial law); Part 1 of Article 14, Part 2 of Article 258 (preparation for a terrorist act committed by prior conspiracy by a group of persons); Part 1 of Article 263 (illegal handling of weapons, ammunition or explosives).

The perpetrators are being held without bail. They face life imprisonment and confiscation of property.

Comprehensive measures were carried out under the procedural guidance of the Prosecutor General’s Office.

Sternenko later wrote on his Telegram channel: "Thanks to the SBU. I’m fine. Unlike the killer."