Ukraine Crushes FSB Assassination Plot Against Russian Opposition Leader

Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) and military intelligence agency (HUR) foiled an assassination plot organized by Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) against a Russian opposition figure who had traveled to Ukraine for Independence Day, the agencies announced on September 2.

The SBU said the intended target was “one of the leaders of the Russian opposition political national movement,” who arrived in Ukraine for the country’s Independence Day celebrations on August 24. Ukrainian authorities have not officially disclosed the person’s identity or details of how the attack was intended to be carried out.

“Ukraine’s Security Service, jointly with the HUR of the Ministry of Defense, prevented a terrorist attack that Russia’s FSB was preparing against one of the leaders of the Russian opposition political national movement, who arrived in Ukraine on the occasion of our country’s Independence Day,” the SBU said.

HUR also confirmed the joint operation, saying investigative measures were continuing. Neither agency disclosed whether suspects had been detained or provided additional information about the preparation of the attack.

Ukrainian media have identified the possible target as Stepan Kaplunov, a Russian national and deputy commander of the Russian Volunteer Corps (RDK), a formation of Russian citizens fighting on Ukraine’s side.

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RBC-Ukraine reported on September 2, citing unnamed sources, that Kaplunov was the opposition figure targeted in the alleged FSB operation. The SBU and HUR have not officially confirmed his identity as the intended target.

The announcement comes amid questions surrounding Kaplunov’s whereabouts. The RDK previously reported that he had disappeared near his home several days before the Ukrainian security services announced that they had foiled the FSB operation.

RDK chief of staff Oleksandr Fortuna said the group contacted HUR, the SBU, and Ukraine’s State Bureau of Investigation after Kaplunov went missing.

Separately, Ukrainian media and Telegram channels reported an overnight confrontation involving armed personnel in Kyiv. Videos circulating online showed several groups of men in military-style clothing, while recordings from the area appeared to capture gunfire.

Kaplunov’s lawyer, Taras Borovskyi, claimed that law enforcement officers had arrived at Kaplunov’s residence before fellow servicemen later appeared at the location. He also alleged that Kaplunov had been detained by the SBU.

Ukrainian authorities have not confirmed those claims or publicly established a connection between the reported confrontation in Kyiv and the FSB assassination plot announced by the SBU and HUR. The Ukrainian security agencies said operational and investigative measures remain underway.

Earlier, the SBU dismantled a Russian military intelligence network that had been preparing targeted killings of prominent figures in Ukraine, detaining more than 10 operatives and killing one armed suspect who resisted arrest.

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