Ukrainian law enforcement agencies have successfully prevented a series of contract killings targeting journalists, military personnel, and public figures, which were meticulously planned by Russian special services.
This was reported by Hvylya, citing Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko and Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko.
The large-scale special operation, dubbed "ENIGMA 2.0," involved a joint investigative team of Ukrainian and Moldovan law enforcement officers who managed to expose the organized agent-combat network.
According to the investigation, the perpetrators operated under the direct curation of Russian special services. They gathered detailed information on potential victims, including movement routes, places of residence, and lifestyle patterns.
The Russian side promised the executors a reward of up to $100,000 for each murder. The final sum depended on the level of publicity and influence of the potential victim.
"Among the individuals targeted for assassination was Andrii Yusov, a representative for strategic communication of the Defence Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine," Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko stated.
The organizers intended for the murders of these specific individuals to cause significant public outcry and create a negative information environment regarding the security situation in Ukraine.
To disrupt the criminal plans, security forces simultaneously conducted over 20 searches across several regions. During the investigative actions, officers seized mobile phones, weapons, ammunition, explosives, and correspondence with Russian handlers.
Seven individuals have already been detained in Ukraine. Parallel to this, three suspects were arrested on the territory of Moldova, including the network's organizer and two accomplices.
"Russian aggression manifests not only in open hostilities but also in attempts to destabilize the situation inside Ukraine through terror," the Ministry of Internal Affairs emphasized.
The members of the organized group have been notified of suspicion. Motions are currently being prepared for the court to select a preventive measure in the form of detention.