Plot to assassinate Putin confidant uncovered, Russian security claims

Russian security services claim to have stopped an attempted attack on one of Vladimir Putin’s closest associates.

The Federal Security Service (FSB) announced that a “sabotage group” had been preparing to assassinate Sergei Shoigu, now Secretary of the Security Council and formerly Russia’s long-serving defence minister.

Alleged cemetery attack

According to details circulated by Russian state media and outlets such as MKRU, the attack was allegedly set to occur during Shoigu’s private visit to a Moscow cemetery.

The FSB said it uncovered what it described as a “Ukrainian link” to the plan.

No public evidence has been presented to back up this claim, TVP World noted.

Shoigu has been a central figure in the Kremlin hierarchy for decades. He oversaw Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and was widely viewed as a key political ally of President Putin.

Shifting roles

His position in government changed dramatically in May 2024, when Putin removed him from the Defence Ministry after 12 years in the post.

The reshuffle followed months of internal friction within Russia’s military elite and repeated criticisms of Shoigu’s leadership during the war.

The year prior, Shoigu had become embroiled in a highly public confrontation with Yevgeny Prigozhin, the late head of the Wagner mercenary group. Prigozhin accused him of corruption and demanded his dismissal, heightening tensions at the top of Russia’s security establishment.

The FSB did not provide detailed information about the alleged perpetrators or the evidence collected during the operation.

Officials have not confirmed whether arrests were made or whether further investigations are under way.

Sources: Digi24; MKRU; TVP World

This article is made and published by Camilla Jessen, who may have used AI in the preparation