Russia Claims to Have Prevented Terror Attack on Senior Church Leader
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Synopsis
On February 28, Russia accused Ukraine of plotting to kill Georgy Alexandrovich Shevkunov, a senior Russian Orthodox Church figure. The FSB reported thwarting the assassination attempt, leading to arrests and the discovery of an IED.
Key Takeaways
- Russia accused Ukraine of planning to assassinate a church leader.
- Georgy Alexandrovich Shevkunov is a notable figure in the Orthodox Church.
- The FSB intervened, preventing a terrorist attack.
- Two individuals were arrested in connection with the plot.
- More than 70 Ukrainian numbers were found on their devices.
Moscow, Feb 28 (NationPress) Russia has claimed that Ukraine attempted to assassinate a senior figure of the Russian Orthodox Church, 66-year-old Georgy Alexandrovich Shevkunov, known as the Tikhon of Simferopol and Crimea, who is also a member of Russian President Vladimir Putin's cultural and arts advisory council.
The Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB) reported that it thwarted a terrorist plot aimed at the senior bishop, allegedly orchestrated by the Ukrainian Defence Ministry’s Main Directorate of Intelligence.
Reports from Russian media indicate that cleric Nikita Ivankovich and Denis Popovich, an aide to the bishop, have been detained for their involvement in the planned attack.
“In this instance, it is evident that the Kyiv regime has no moral boundaries. Nothing is sacred, and this is further validated,” stated Dmitry Peskov, Press Secretary to the Russian President, while addressing reporters on Friday.
Previously, the FSB disclosed that the apprehended individuals, both Ukrainian and Russian nationals, were recruited via social media by the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ukrainian Defence Ministry. The investigation uncovered an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and two counterfeit Ukrainian passports featuring the detainees' images and altered identifying information.
“The defendants admitted that in mid-2024, they were enlisted by a member of the Ukrainian intelligence agency to execute the physical elimination of Metropolitan Tikhon. In December 2024, the IED was handed over to them via a hidden cache. The attack was scheduled for when Metropolitan Tikhon was in Moscow. Following the execution of their plan, they intended to flee Russia using the forged passports supplied by the Ukrainian special services,” the FSB asserted.
A criminal case has been initiated against the accused for conspiring to commit a terrorist act and illegally trafficking explosive devices.
According to Russia's state-owned Tass news agency, over 70 Ukrainian phone numbers were discovered on the devices of the arrested individuals.
