SBU reports thwarting assassination attempt on media personality Dmytro Gordon in Kyiv

The SBU's counterintelligence department has detained four groups of Russia's FSB operatives who were plotting a second assassination attempt targeting Ukrainian media personality Dmytro Gordon, the SBU reported in a Facebook post.

According to the investigators, the Russian special service set a reward of 400 thousand US dollars for the crime.

Detained suspect in the Dmytro Gordon assassination attempt case. Photo by the SBU

“The occupiers entrusted the preparation of the famous journalist's assassination to an agent deep undercover in Kyiv. The agent turned out to be a Russian citizen aged 36, hailing from the North Caucasus, whom the FSB 'routed' to Ukraine even before the full-scale invasion as a political asylum seeker from Russia,” the SBU reported.

To cover up, the FSB pushed fabricated criminal charges against the agent and put him on the wanted list in order to make him look like an “opposition figure”.

“After the start of the full-scale war, the person of interest received a task from his curator: to create reconnaissance and combat groups in Kyiv consisting of North Caucasus natives,” the SBU reported.

The attackers purchased several cars, disguised them as taxis and equipped them with hidden video recorders. The drivers of these cars stalked Dmytro Gordon, tracking his daily routine, whereabouts, and the presence of security guards.

"As per the FSB's plan, the assassin was supposed to attack the target with a firearm and quickly flee the scene, get rid of the weapon, and 'lay low.' The resident agent was looking to purchase a motorcycle for this purpose," the SBU reported.

The special service forestalled the operation: all members of the group and the resident agent were detained while preparting for the assassination attempt.

“While documenting the suspects' reconnaissance activities, the SBU learned that they had received additional missions to help the Russian troops aim their strikes and assassinate foreigners fighting for Ukraine. One of those was a Russian citizen who is now fighting for our country as part of the RVC,” the department said.

The SBU has notified the detainees of suspicion under Part 1 of Article 258 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (“Acts of terrorism”). They are in custody, facing up to 10 years in prison with confiscation of property.

In September 2024, four agents of Russia's FSB, coordinated by an ex-deputy of the outlawed "Party of Regions", were detained in Kyiv while preparing sabotage operations and collecting data on Ukraine's public figures, including the Ukrainian media personality Dmytro Gordon, for assassination purpose.