Federal authorities say Russia's intelligence services plotted targeted killings in the United States and European nations backing Ukraine, announcing charges against five people who remain at large.
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Key facts
- Federal authorities announced the allegations on Tuesday.
- An indictment was unsealed in Manhattan federal court.
- Five people have been charged and all remain at large.
- The alleged network paid or attempted to pay individuals to surveil and kill targets.
- Targets were described as people perceived to be aligned with Ukraine.
Russia’s intelligence services are plotting to carry out targeted killings in the United States and in European nations that support Ukraine, federal authorities said Tuesday, according to the Guardian.
The authorities announced charges against five people who remain at large. An indictment unsealed in Manhattan federal court described a network tied to the intelligence services that allegedly sought to identify and eliminate individuals perceived to be aligned with Ukraine.
According to the indictment, the network paid and attempted to pay individuals in the United States and in other countries to surveil targets who were to be killed, with plans to then carry out the killings.
The Guardian reported that the alleged scheme spanned both the United States and European nations providing support to Ukraine, indicating an effort that reached across multiple countries.
As of the announcement, the five people charged had not been apprehended and remained at large, according to federal officials cited by the Guardian.
The unsealing of the indictment in Manhattan federal court marks the formal step by prosecutors to make the charges public, though the sources did not detail the identities of the accused or the specific targets.
Why it matters
Allegations that a foreign government sought to carry out killings on US and European soil raise serious national security and public safety concerns. The case highlights the risks faced by people connected to Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict and the reach of foreign intelligence operations abroad.
Frequently asked questions
How many people have been charged?
Federal authorities announced charges against five people, all of whom remain at large, according to the Guardian.
Where was the indictment unsealed?
The indictment was unsealed in Manhattan federal court.
Who were the alleged targets?
According to the indictment, the targets were people perceived to be aligned with Ukraine, located in the United States and other countries.
Timeline
- Russia plotting to kill Ukraine allies in US and Europe, FBI says
The Guardian World: Intelligence services allegedly attempted to pay people to surveil and kill people perceived to be aligned with Ukraine Russia’s intelligence services are plotting to carry out targeted killings in the United States and in European nations supporting Ukraine, federal authorities
- Russia plotting to kill targets in US and Europe, federal officials say
The Guardian World: Intelligence services allegedly attempted to pay people to surveil and kill people perceived to be aligned with Ukraine Russia’s intelligence services are plotting to carry out targeted killings in the United States and in European nations supporting Ukraine, federal authorities