Ukraine Says It Foiled FSB Plot to Assassinate Prominent Journalist Dmytro Gordon

Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) announced Monday it has thwarted an elaborate plot orchestrated by Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) to assassinate Dmytro Gordon, one of the country's most well-known journalists.
In a multi-stage special operation in the capital, counterintelligence officers dismantled four FSB agent-combat groups and detained their coordinator, preventing what they described as a second attempt on Gordon's life. The FSB had allegedly placed a $400,000 bounty on the journalist.
According to the SBU, the operation was masterminded by a 36-year-old Russian national from the North Caucasus. This individual had been dispatched to Ukraine before the 2022 full-scale invasion, where he established a cover story as a political dissident fleeing Russia.
To build his network and carry out surveillance, the agent reportedly used FSB funds to purchase several vehicles, which were then disguised as taxis. These cars, equipped with concealed cameras, were used to track Gordon's movements, daily routines, and security detail.
The detained suspects now face potential prison sentences of up to 10 years. SBU chief Vasyl Maliuk stated that Gordon was targeted due to his influential media presence and staunch criticism of the Kremlin, which "triggers" Russian authorities. The plot also included gathering intelligence on foreign nationals fighting for Ukraine.