The Security Service of Ukraine prevented an assassination attempt on a Ukrainian Navy officer in Odesa. As a result of a special operation, a foreign national was detained, who, according to the investigation, was recruited by Russian special services to carry out a contract killing.
This is reported by Finway
Details of the SBU Special Operation in Odesa
According to SBU spokesperson Artem Dekhtyarenko, the attacker arrived in Odesa from one of the Balkan countries disguised as a tourist back in February 2026. Later, he received coordinates for a hideout from his curator in Russia, where he was provided with a firearm equipped with a silencer and ammunition. After that, the suspect meticulously tracked the routes and locations of his target — the Ukrainian officer.
On the day of the assassination attempt, the killer set up an ambush near the residential complex where the serviceman lived. Armed with a loaded pistol and two magazines, he took a position, disguising himself as a cyclist supposedly repairing his bike. While waiting for the officer’s car to appear, the attacker threw his bicycle under the wheels of the vehicle and attempted to open fire on the driver.
However, the counterintelligence and special unit group of the SBU, which was monitoring the suspect, timely apprehended him at the crime scene. The entire preparation process and the attempt were documented by law enforcement officers.
Investigation and Punishment for the Suspect
During the investigation, it was revealed that the 37-year-old citizen of one of the Balkan countries regularly changed rented apartments and hotel rooms in Odesa for the sake of conspiracy and to avoid surveillance. After his arrest, he was informed of the suspicion under Part 2 of Article 15 and Part 2 of Article 258 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — an attempted act of terrorism.
“The SBU’s Counterintelligence Department, together with the Security Service Office in the Odesa region, thwarted the Russians’ attempt to carry out a contract killing of a Ukrainian Navy officer. The case was detailed by SBU spokesperson Artem Dekhtyarenko.”
The suspect is in custody. He faces up to 12 years of imprisonment for his actions. A complex of operational measures was conducted under the procedural guidance of the regional prosecutor’s office.
In addition, the SBU detained another Russian agent who was planning a missile and bomb strike against the commander of the Third Army Corps, Andriy Biletsky.