The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) announced the arrest of two security officers.
The officers are suspected of plotting to assassinate President Volodymyr Zelensky and other senior officials in the country on orders from Moscow, AFP reported.
The SBU "dismantled a network of agents" of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) who were "preparing the assassination of the Ukrainian president," the source's statement said.
Other "high-ranking representatives" of the military and political spheres, such as the head of military intelligence, Kirill Budanov, were also targeted, the Ukrainian services said.
The arrested suspects are two colonels of the Ukrainian civil service, responsible for the security of civil servants.
The network was controlled by the FSB and the two officers allegedly passed confidential information to Russia.
In particular, according to Ukrainian authorities, they wanted to recruit soldiers close to President Zelensky's security service to take him hostage and kill him.
One member of this alleged network obtained drones and explosives, according to the SBU.
Ukraine has repeatedly condemned attempts to assassinate its president, other high-ranking officials or their relatives.
In April, a man was arrested in Poland on suspicion of helping Russian intelligence prepare an assassination attempt against Volodymyr Zelensky, according to Polish and Ukrainian prosecutors.
Russia has repeatedly been accused of poisoning Kremlin opponents, both at home and abroad, but has always denied the allegations. / BGNES
