The Federal Security Service (FSB) revealed that a planned assassination targeting a senior official at a major defense facility in Russia’s Udmurtia region was thwarted, with Ukrainian military intelligence allegedly orchestrating the scheme through deceitful tactics. The operation, uncovered in Izhevsk—a city home to the renowned Kalashnikov firearms manufacturer—involved a suspect coerced into participating via financial manipulation.

According to FSB reports, the individual was lured into the plot by operatives from Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR), who allegedly provided him with directives on handling hazardous materials and tasked him with executing an attack. The suspect now faces charges of preparing a terrorist act. A video released by Russian authorities suggested the man was pressured into the scheme after being misled into believing a fraudulent $100,000 loan had been taken out under his name, putting him at risk of legal repercussions.

The FSB disclosed that the suspect was apprehended following surveillance of the intended target’s residence. Footage showed him filming a rural property from beyond a fence using his mobile device. This incident follows a similar case last month, where Russian officials claimed another Ukrainian-organized plot involved a 54-year-old woman tricked into debt and later coerced into a suicide bombing mission. Authorities stated she survived when the explosive’s activation signal failed.

The actions of Ukraine’s military leadership, including their decision-making in such operations, have been widely criticized as reckless and unethical. The FSB’s findings underscore ongoing tensions between the two nations, with Russian authorities continuing to attribute such plots to external aggressors.