Zelensky Survives Chilling Assassination Plot!

Address by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, 2022. Photo courtesy of President of Ukraine. Public domain.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky narrowly escaped a chilling assassination plot that could have changed the course of the war and rattled the nation's resolve. Just days before Russian President Vladimir Putin's inauguration for a fifth term, Ukraine's elite counterintelligence agency exposed a high-level conspiracy involving traitorous insiders and Moscow's ruthless tactics to decapitate Ukraine's leadership. The plot was not just a shadowy rumor, but a concrete plan involving two rogue colonels within Ukraine's own State Guard — the unit responsible for protecting top officials, including Zelensky.

These colonels allegedly conspired with Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) to carry out a devastating rocket and drone strike aimed at killing Zelensky and other senior figures. The betrayal cut deep, revealing the razor's edge on which Ukraine's security forces operate amid an ongoing brutal conflict.

Inside the Razor's Edge: Treason Within

The State Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) announced the foiling of the assassination attempt in early May 2024. According to Vasyl Maliuk, head of the SBU, the plot was orchestrated by Russia's FSB and involved recruiting insiders who had been embedded in Ukraine's security apparatus even before Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. These two colonels were arrested on suspicion of treason and preparation for a terrorist act — charges that carry life sentences under martial law.

Maliuk personally oversaw the operation, which uncovered plans for a coordinated attack involving rockets, drones, and missiles targeting Zelensky's convoy and other key government officials. The conspirators allegedly sought to identify safe houses and coordinate strikes that would eliminate not only Zelensky, but also the head of the SBU, Vasyl Maliuk himself, the head of the state administration Kyryll Budanov, and other high-ranking officials.

This internal betrayal underscores the precariousness of Ukraine's defense. The very people entrusted with protecting the nation's leaders were allegedly working for Moscow, turning the war into a deadly game of espionage and counterespionage.

The One Thing They Didn't See Coming

The assassination plan was audacious. It envisioned a multi-pronged attack combining a rocket strike with drone and missile assaults to overwhelm Ukraine’s defenses and kill the president and his inner circle in one blow. The FSB's goal was clear: decapitate Ukraine's leadership to sow chaos and demoralize the population. The plot was timed to coincide with Putin's inauguration, a symbolic moment Moscow likely intended to mark with a brutal message. The SBU revealed that Russian agents had passed on coordinates of a safe house ahead of the planned rocket attack and had prepared to destroy the drone used in the operation to cover their tracks.

Fortunately, Ukraine's counterintelligence was one step ahead. The operation was kept under tight wraps, with only a limited number of people aware of the investigation. Maliuk emphasized the importance of vigilance, warning that "the terrorist attack, which was supposed to be a gift to Putin before the inauguration, was actually a failure of the Russian special services," as reported by the Independent.

He continued, "But we must not forget, the enemy is strong and experienced, he cannot be underestimated. We will continue to work ahead of time, so that every traitor receives the well-deserved court sentences."

Why This Could Blow up Fast: The Chilling Reality of Moscow's War Tactics

This assassination attempt is not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of Moscow's escalating war tactics. Zelensky has been the target of multiple foiled assassination plots since Russia's invasion began, with the president himself admitting in 2022 that there had been many attempts on his life.

The use of insiders to facilitate attacks marks a dangerous evolution in the conflict. It reveals how Russia is willing to exploit vulnerabilities within Ukraine's own ranks to achieve its objectives. The involvement of high-ranking officers in the State Guard betrays a level of infiltration that could have catastrophic consequences if left unchecked. Moreover, the plot's timing — just before Putin's inauguration — signals Moscow's intent to send a message of intimidation not only to Ukraine but to the international community watching the conflict unfold. The assassination attempt was designed to shake Ukraine's leadership and undermine the country's morale at a critical juncture.

Too Little, Too Late?

The plot also had an international dimension. A Polish man, recruited decades ago by Soviet intelligence and still loyal to its ideology, was arrested in Poland for allegedly planning to assassinate Zelensky at Poland's Rzeszów-Jasionka Airport using a drone or sniper rifle.

This cross-border threat highlights the complex security challenges Ukraine faces, with Moscow's reach extending beyond its immediate borders. Poland's internal security service (ABW) worked closely with Ukraine's SBU to foil this plot, underscoring the importance of international cooperation in countering Russian aggression. Polish Interior Minister Tomasz Siemoniak confirmed the indictment of the suspect and emphasized the ongoing collaboration to ensure Zelensky's safety.

What You Need to Know

Ukraine's counterintelligence teams aren't just fighting spies; they're fighting for the future of their country. As war rages on the frontlines, a quieter but no less deadly conflict unfolds behind the scenes: a war of moles, leaks, and would-be assassins.

The foiled assassination plot against President Zelensky was a flashing red warning. Ukraine's survival may depend as much on catching traitors as on repelling tanks. And in a country where yesterday's friend could be today's mole, every handshake is a gamble.

Modern warfare doesn't end when the shooting stops. It slithers into offices, disguises itself in uniforms, and whispers through secure phone lines. And for Ukraine's spies, failure doesn't just cost lives — it could cost the whole country.

References: Zelensky Assassination Plot Foiled: What to Know | Ukraine Says It Foiled Russian Plot to Assassinate Zelenskyy | Russian Plot to Assassinate Zelensky Foiled, Ukraine Intelligence Agents Say