President Zelenskyy Confirms SBU Foiled Russian Assassination Plots and Neutralized Influential Religious Agent Networks

President Zelenskyy confirms the SBU prevented Russian assassination attempts and neutralized agent networks operating through religious groups.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 24, 2026, 12:09 PM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Interfax-Ukraine

Countering Covert Lethal Operations on Domestic Soil

The Ukrainian security apparatus has successfully intercepted and neutralized several Russian-led hit squads tasked with carrying out high profile assassinations within the country. During an evening address on Monday, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that Major General Oleksandr Poklad provided a detailed report on the prevention of these violent crimes. While the specific identities of the targets and the locations of the detentions remain classified for operational security, the President confirmed that the suspects are currently in custody. This development underscores a persistent campaign by Moscow to use liquidator cells to destabilize the Ukrainian leadership and volunteer networks from within.

Dismantling Influence Networks in Religious Communities

A significant portion of the recent SBU activity has focused on the systemic elimination of Russian "influence networks" that have allegedly utilized religious institutions as a cover for intelligence operations. Acting SBU Head Yevhen Khmara briefed the President on the successful identification and neutralization of these groups, which are accused of disseminating Kremlin-aligned narratives and coordinating with foreign handlers. By targeting these specific conduits, the Ukrainian government aims to sever the ideological and logistical ties that allow foreign intelligence services to operate under the guise of spiritual or community leadership.

Economic Attrition Through Long Range Precision

Beyond domestic counterintelligence, the Security Service has intensified its long range operations against what the President termed "Russian oil wallets." These strategic strikes are designed to degrade the financial resources available to the Kremlin for sustaining its military campaign. Zelenskyy emphasized that the war must not be allowed to draw additional strength from geopolitical fluctuations or artificial spikes in global oil prices. The SBU’s accuracy in hitting energy related targets serves as a dual-purpose tool, limiting the enemy's logistical capacity while simultaneously restricting the flow of revenue into the Russian federal budget.