The second highest authority over the military secret service in the Ukraine said this Wednesday the 24th that agents of Kyiv actively trying to kill the President of Russia, Wladimir Putin. The statement was made in an interview with the German newspaper Welt.
“Our priority is to destroy the unit commander who is ordering his men to attack,” General said. Vadim Skibitski, deputy head of Ukraine’s intelligence department, told the newspaper. When asked who he would be, Skibitski replied emphatically: “Putin, because he coordinates and decides what happens.”
On May 3, Vladimir Putin’s Kremlin headquarters were attacked by drones. The Russian was not on site at the time of the attack. The government described the incident as a terrorist attack and accused Ukraine of carrying out the action. President of Ukraine, Volodmir Zelenskyy, denied authorship. However, US officials point out that Ukrainian military units are likely involved.
Image shows drone attack on the Kremlin on May 3rd. Russia has accused Ukraine of carrying out a “terrorist attack” and the country denies responsibility. Photo: Ostorozhno Novosti/Portal
Putin is aware of Ukraine’s plans, the general said. “Putin recognizes that we are getting closer to him, but he is also afraid of being killed by his own people,” he explained. “Many people in Russia still support this ‘special operation’ [contra a Ucrânia]But thanks to social media, we know how many Russians died in the conflict and that scares people,” he said.
Skibitski also named other goals for the department. Among them are Wagner Group founder Yevgeny Prigozhin, Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov and Defense Minister Serguei Shoigu.
When asked whether propagandists, oligarchs and civilians would also be considered permissible targets, Skibitsi said: “We are at war and these are our enemies.” When an important figure manufactures and finances weapons [a Rússia]their elimination would save the lives of many civilians (…) According to international conventions, this is a legitimate goal.”
The interview was reproduced in Russia by the Russian news agency Ria Novosti. “This is not the first time that the Ukrainian authorities have threatened terrorist attacks against Russians and those supporting the special military operation. Thus, in early May, the head of the intelligence department of the country’s defense ministry, Kirill Budanov, said that Kiev “has been killing Russians all over the world and will be killing them until Ukraine’s complete victory,” according to the agency.
Russia has also denounced several “acts of sabotage” within the country. This week areas near the border with Ukraine were attacked, killing one civilian and injuring 11. The population was evacuated from the region by the government. The attack was claimed by a socalled paramilitary group Russian Freedom Legionwhich should actually consist of Russians.