Russia's intelligence services have been plotting targeted killings in the United States and Europe against people perceived as allies of Ukraine. The FBI disclosed an indictment revealing a network of Russian intelligence agents who paid and attempted to pay individuals to conduct surveillance and murder targets. The network also solicited acts of terrorism against civilian and military infrastructure in European nations supporting Ukraine. The FBI disrupted these assassination and terrorism plans through multi-agency efforts. The network has been active since at least 2024, previously targeting Russian dissidents and defectors but more recently focusing on Ukraine allies. In summer 2026, the network recruited a US-based individual to surveil and potentially kill a prominent Russian dissident believed to reside in the US. The recruited person conducted surveillance but refused payment to carry out the murder. Following this refusal, attempts were made to recruit additional people in the US by offering large sums of money for assassination. The FBI officials emphasized the rapid disruption of these plots and the accountability sought from the Russian government.

Russia's intelligence services have been plotting targeted killings in the United States and Europe against people perceived as allies of Ukraine. The FBI disclosed an indictment revealing a network of Russian intelligence agents who paid and attempted to pay individuals to conduct surveillance and murder targets. The network also solicited acts of terrorism against civilian and military infrastructure in European nations supporting Ukraine. The FBI disrupted these assassination and terrorism plans through multi-agency efforts. The network has been active since at least 2024, previously targeting Russian dissidents and defectors but more recently focusing on Ukraine allies. In summer 2026, the network recruited a US-based individual to surveil and potentially kill a prominent Russian dissident believed to reside in the US. The recruited person conducted surveillance but refused payment to carry out the murder. Following this refusal, attempts were made to recruit additional people in the US by offering large sums of money for assassination. The FBI officials emphasized the rapid disruption of these plots and the accountability sought from the Russian government.