FBI says Russia plotted to kill Ukraine allies in US and Europe
This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.
The FBI says Russian intelligence services and their proxies conspired to threaten or kill people in the US and around the world. A Manhattan federal court indictment alleges a network paid or attempted to pay individuals to surveil and murder targets. The network also tasked recruits with terrorist acts against civilian and military infrastructure in European countries seen as pro-Ukraine.
Key Facts
- A Manhattan federal court indictment alleges a network paid or attempted to pay individuals to surveil and kill people in the US and other countries.
- The network also tasked recruits with terrorist acts against civilian and military infrastructure in European countries seen as pro-Ukraine.
- US authorities charged five people allegedly linked to Russian intelligence services with trying to recruit people for surveillance, killings, and attacks on infrastructure in Western countries.
- This summer, suspects tried to hire a person in the US to surveil and kill an unnamed Russian dissident for $40,000, but the person refused.
The Indictment
A Manhattan federal court indictment alleges that an intelligence network paid or attempted to pay individuals to surveil and kill people in the US and other countries. The indictment states that recruits were also tasked with carrying out terrorist acts against civilian and military infrastructure in European countries assessed as pro-Ukraine. James Barnacle Jr., head of the FBI's New York office, said Russian intelligence services and their partners conspired to threaten or kill people on US soil and around the world.
Targets and Recruitment
Officials said the network previously focused on Russian dissidents and asylum seekers, but recently began targeting countries seen as allies of Ukraine. The indictment says that this summer a person living in the US was approached to surveil and kill a prominent Russian dissident, but the person refused the murder offer. According to the FBI, suspects tried to hire a person in the US to surveil and kill an unnamed Russian dissident for $40,000, but the person refused. US authorities charged five people allegedly linked to Russian intelligence services with trying to recruit people for surveillance, killings, and attacks on infrastructure in Western countries.
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