Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky escaped an assassination attempt by a Russian “sleeper agent,” according to the head of Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU), Vasyl Malyuk.
Speaking to journalists, Malyuk claimed that the plot was orchestrated by a retired military officer who had been allegedly recruited by Russia “decades ago” before being “activated.” The target was President Zelensky, with the plan set to be executed at Rzeszów airport in Poland. Multiple scenarios were reportedly considered, including the use of a drone or a sniper.
“All of this was in motion, but we arrested him. Our Polish colleagues acted professionally — it was a joint operation,” Malyuk stated, as reported by Telegrafi.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Poland’s ABW (Internal Security Agency), which is the counterpart of our SBU — the internal special service. Together, we carried out a crucial criminal operation. A retired Polish military officer, recruited decades ago, remained ideologically committed to Soviet ideals and had nurtured this mission for years,” he added.
Officials from the SBU and Polish law enforcement agents from the National Security Agency successfully thwarted the plot.
According to UNN, another assassination attempt on Zelensky was also prevented — this one allegedly organized within Ukraine’s own security apparatus, the State Guard Administration (UDO), in collaboration with FSB colonels.
“A detained UDO colonel — the head of the Department of State Protection Management — was involved. These are the very people who are supposed to protect top officials, and instead, they were planning an attack on our President, Volodymyr Zelensky,” Malyuk emphasized.
“Another colonel was arrested alongside him. They were both working for the Russian Federation’s FSB, specifically for the Fifth Service,” the Ukrainian intelligence chief concluded.
