At Putin's Inauguration... Ukraine Says "Thwarted Zelensky Assassination Attempt"

Ukraine announced on the 7th (local time) that it thwarted Russia's attempt to assassinate President Volodymyr Zelensky and other high-ranking military and political officials.

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

Ukraine's intelligence agency, the SBU, stated in a press release that a network related to the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) was involved in the assassination attempt on President Zelensky, and that two Ukrainian colonels were arrested on charges of treason for their involvement.

The day Ukraine disclosed this information coincided with the inauguration day of Russian President Vladimir Putin's fifth term in office. Ukraine claims that Russia intended to use the assassination of President Zelensky as a gift for Putin's inauguration.

According to the SBU, those involved in the assassination attempt were confirmed to be members of the FSB agent network. It is understood that Russia recruited them as spies before the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. In addition to President Zelensky, Russia also targeted Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Military Intelligence Directorate (HUR), and Vasyl Malyk, head of the SBU, for assassination. In particular, there were specific plans to assassinate Director Budanov with rocket and drone attacks before the Orthodox Easter on May 5.

Earlier, President Zelensky revealed that there had been about ten assassination attempts against him since Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year.

Meanwhile, President Putin, who secured a fifth term in the presidential election last March, began his fifth term with the inauguration ceremony on this day.

In his speech after taking the oath, President Putin justified the invasion of Ukraine (referred to as a special military operation) by saying, "The Russian people have confirmed the correct direction of the state," and added, "We see an understanding of common historical goals, our choices and values, freedom, and a firm determination to protect Russia's national interests." He also addressed the West, stating, "We do not avoid dialogue with the West," and "The choice is theirs."

Western ambassadors from the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, Italy, and others did not attend the inauguration, refusing to recognize the legitimacy of the Russian presidential election.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.