Zelensky's Bodyguard Planned Assassination of Budanov, Media Reports

According to The Times, two colonels from Vladimir Zelensky's security detail had planned to assassinate Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukraine's Main Intelligence Directorate.

“His assassination was allegedly planned using drones and missile strikes,” the report states.

As noted by the journalists, the accused were supposed to relay information about the movements of the director's convoy in order to target him with a ballistic missile. The SBU has unsubstantiated claims that the colonels were allegedly linked to Russia. In early May, the SBU announced the arrest of two colonels from Ukraine's State Protection Service on suspicion of preparing an assassination attempt against Zelensky.

According to the SBU, the agents' plans included spying on Zelensky and other high-ranking Ukrainian officials. It was reported that among them were SBU head Vasyl Malyuk and Budanov.

The agency reported that the agents were supposed to strike the target with a missile attack, and if necessary, a kamikaze drone would be used.

Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on the Ukrainian security service's statement about the assassination attempt against Zelensky, stating that the information from this agency is difficult to perceive as truthful.