The Ukrainian authorities declare that they have prevented an attempt by the Russian special services to kill the Minister of Defense Oleksiy Reznikov and the head of intelligence of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, General Kyryl Budanov, Ukrainian Pravda reports.

“The SBU prevented a series of contract killings of representatives of the top military and political leadership and public figures of Ukraine. The attackers were preparing for the physical destruction of the Minister of Defense and the head of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of our state, as well as a well-known Ukrainian activist,” the SBU said in a statement.

It says that the Ukrainian authorities detained an “enemy agent” to whom Russia promised up to 150,000 dollars for killing each of the officials on Moscow’s target list.

“According to the investigation materials, a resident of the Luhansk region was recruited, who since 2014 participated in hostilities on the side of the aggressor country in the ranks of the so-called “people’s militia” of the LPR (No. 1000). the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic) was entrusted with the organization of crimes.”

The SBU declares that in May of this year, it engaged an “executor” – a citizen of Ukraine living in Kyiv – for the murders. Ukrainian agents say both men were arrested in Kovel, a city in the northwest of the country.

Who is General Kyrylo Budanov?

As the head of the Military Intelligence Service of Ukraine, Budanov became one of the most famous Ukrainian officers in the West after the start of the war on February 24, giving several interviews to prestigious Western publications.

It was General Budanov who warned in mid-May that Ukraine would never give up Snake Island, which was then under Russian occupation after the invasion troops captured it on the first day of the war.

“This is a strategically important point for the opening of trade sea routes, the import of weapons and the exclusion of any possible military actions by Russia on the territory of Transnistria, from where they can attack the western part of Ukraine,” he explained at the time.

The Ministry of Defense of Russia finally announced the withdrawal of its troops from the Black Sea island on June 30. A few days later, the Ukrainians raised their flag again on Zmiiny Island.

Kyrylo Budanov also stated at the beginning of May that the war will end only with the death of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“He is a war criminal for the whole world. This is the end for him, he has backed himself into a corner. Don’t worry, Ukraine will win,” he assured on May 3 in an interview with the New Voice of Ukraine magazine.

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