By New York Post (World News) | Created at 2024-12-28 22:20:06 | Updated at 2024-12-29 14:26:11
16 hours ago
Russian security officials say they foiled a plot by one of their own citizens to kill a high ranking officer and a pro-Russian war blogger.
The Russian citizen was working with Ukraine’s military intelligence agency and planned to detonate a bomb hidden in a portable speaker, according to Russia’s Federal Security Service.
The citizen got in contact with a Ukranian Defense Ministry officer over the messaging service Telegram, received instructions and then retrieved a bomb from a hiding place in Moscow, the FSB said.
Russian officials did not name the official or blogger that were being targeted.
Amid the nearly-three year war following Russia’s invasion, Ukraine has said the targeted killings of those it deems guilty of war crimes are legitimate, while Russia has called them “acts of terrorism.”
Earlier this month, Ukraine’s intelligence service killed a Russian lieutenant it said promoted the use of banned chemical weapons.
President-elect Trump’s designated Ukraine envoy, retired Lieutenant-General Keith Kellogg, said the attacks were “not really smart” and going “a little bit too far.”
Separately, the Financial Times reported that a new Russian ballistic missile fired at Ukraine in November was developed using manufacturing equipment from Western companies, despite sanctions aimed at stopping the flow of such equipment to Moscow.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said the missile was in response to Ukraine’s use of Western weapons to strike Russia and that it has “stock” of such weaponry, but the report indicates that the country is still heavily dependent on foreign technology.
Moscow made significant gains on the front lines in 2024, but as the war drags into its third year, some Ukrainians still hold out hope for prisoner swaps, which have dropped sharply.
There were only 10 prisoner exchanges this year, the lowest number since the invasion began and over 8,000 prisoners of war are thought to still be held in Russia, according to the BBC.
Families and activists gathered in Kyiv on Christmas to call for the release of Ukrainian prisoners.
“We hope for a Christmas miracle,” Tetiana, whose 24-year-old son Artem was captured almost three years ago, told the outlet. “My son’s release is my deepest wish.”
With Post wires
