Russian intelligence services intend to commit targeted assassinations in the United States and European countries that support Ukraine, according to an FBI analysis.
This was stated by the American federal authorities, who announced that they had thwarted an assassination plot against a well-known Russian dissident believed to be living in Washington. According to an indictment made public at the federal court in Manhattan, five individuals believed to be living abroad have been charged, writes LaPresse.
The document specifies that, starting from 2024, a network linked to Russian intelligence services would have paid or attempted to pay individuals from the United States and other countries to track and then assassinate Russian dissidents.
Those recruited by the network were also allegedly asked to commit acts of terrorism against civilian and military infrastructure in European countries considered to be aligned with Ukraine. James C. Barnacle Jr., the head of the local FBI office in New York, stated that the agency had thwarted the plans “through tireless work“, while members of the intelligence services and their affiliates “conspired to intimidate, threaten or kill people on US territory and around the world”.
Moscow is already carrying out numerous sabotage operations in one of the key countries of the Alliance: from drones loaded with explosives and attacks on energy targets, to plots against leaders in the defense industry.
Germany has become the main target. In recent weeks, drones loaded with explosives have been detected near Ukrainian cargo planes at Leipzig/Halle airport. One of the devices collided with a plane that was about to land, forcing it to change its trajectory. A few days later, a third drone, equipped with explosives and a detonator, was found attached to a tree.