Ukrainian intelligence services have thwarted another possible assassination attempt on President Volodymyr Zelensky. Ukrainian Minister of National Security and Defense Oleksiy Danilov announced this on local television yesterday. Striking: each time, the assassination plans were thwarted, thanks to information from the Kremlin.
According to Ukrainian intelligence services, some 25 Russian saboteurs, led by a secret service agent, were arrested in Uzhhorod, a town on the border with Slovakia.
In addition to eliminating Zelensky, the group had also been ordered to carry out acts of sabotage in the government district and other parts of the country. They had disguised themselves as members of the Ukrainian armed forces in order to get to the capital Kyiv.
It was not the first failed attempt on Zelensky.
In early March, the Ukrainians foiled three assassination attempts on their president. Then mercenaries from the Kremlin-backed Wagner Group and Chechen special forces were thwarted by opponents of the war within the Russian secret service.
They are said to have passed on information to the Ukrainians, who in turn were able to prevent the attacks. According to the defense minister, this was also the case this time. Someone inside the Kremlin, who doesn’t support the bloody war, gave a tip.
What if it does happen?
But what if it does happen? What if Zelensky is still murdered? Then the continuity of the Ukrainian government will be maintained, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said earlier. “In that case, plans are in place to prevent a collapse of the Ukrainian government,” he said, without going into further detail.
Ukraine also does not release any information about this. “But looking at Ukraine’s constitution, according to foreign sources, the speaker of parliament is next in line to succeed the president — if necessary,” said Retired Colonel Roger Housen. “Ruslan Stefanchuk would then fill that role.”
Western officials have already urged Ukraine to move Stefanchuk from Kyiv to a safer location, but he refused, just as Zelensky has done from the start.
According to the British newspaper ‘The Times’, Stefanchuk Shmyhal Denys is the successor. He is the Prime Minister of Ukraine.
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