Russia’s relentless pursuit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been exposed with the arrest of an FSB sleeper agent planning to assassinate him at Poland’s Rzeszów Airport. The thwarted plot, orchestrated by Putin’s spy service, marks the latest in a series of attempts on the Ukrainian leader’s life as Russia continues its campaign to destabilize the sovereign nation.
FSB’s “Day of the Jackal” Plot Foiled
Ukrainian intelligence, working alongside Polish authorities, successfully intercepted a retired military officer recruited decades ago by Russian intelligence. The sleeper agent, motivated by nostalgia for the Soviet Union, was detained before he could execute his mission to eliminate President Zelensky during one of his diplomatic visits.
Head of SBU announced assassination attempt on dictator Zelensky in Poland. Suspect is alleged pensioner who could have been recruited by Russians🤡
Strange.Russian intelligence has been tracking all dictator's movements for long time, but there is still no order to eliminate him pic.twitter.com/GUy8l5lCyE— Alexander Ivanov (@innova_center) June 23, 2025
Lt Gen Vasyl Maliuk, Ukraine’s SBU spy chief, revealed the assassin considered multiple methods to carry out the killing. “The task was the physical elimination of President Zelensky at Rzeszów airport. Several options were considered. One of them was an FPV drone, the other was a sniper,” Maliuk stated in his report on the operation.
Zelensky Compares Assassination Attempts to COVID
The Ukrainian President has faced numerous threats since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022. Speaking in London during diplomatic talks about military aid, Zelensky compared the constant assassination plots to living with a pandemic.
#Poland An assassination attempt on #Zelensky at the Rzeszow airport was prevented (🇺🇦SBU)
«It was prepared by a military pensioner», a 🇵🇱 russian agent (..) firmly believed in the Soviet idea & had been carrying out the intention for years. So, he was activated», said V. Malyuk. pic.twitter.com/WYdyrzdoJv— The Ukrainian Week / Tyzhden (@ukr_week_en) June 23, 2025
Zelensky’s candid remarks revealed the psychological toll of living under constant threat. “The first one is very interesting, when it is the first time, and after that, it is just like Covid. First, people don’t know what to do with it, and it looks terrifying. And then after that, it is just intelligence sharing details that one more group came to Ukraine to [attempt] this,” the Ukrainian leader explained.
Escalating Russian Aggression
The assassination plot was uncovered amid a massive missile and drone attack on Kyiv that killed at least eight people and injured many more. This dual approach of targeting both Ukraine’s leadership and civilian infrastructure demonstrates Russia’s comprehensive strategy to break Ukrainian resistance through terror and political destabilization.
“The task was the physical elimination of President Zelensky at Rzeszów airport. Several options were considered. One was an FPV drone, the other was a sniper.” – Lt Gen Vasyl Maliuk.
President Zelensky made the shocking revelation that previous assassination attempts have resulted in fatalities within his office. These deadly incidents form part of Russia’s broader campaign to force Ukraine into a disadvantageous peace deal that would compromise its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The joint operation between Ukrainian and Polish security services showcases the strong international cooperation protecting Ukraine’s leadership. This successful counterintelligence work represents a significant victory against Russian efforts to decapitate Ukraine’s democratically elected government. It highlights the continued need for vigilance as the war enters its third year.
Sources:
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/35336485/orkney-assassin-killer-murder-michael-ross/