On 1 July 2024, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said that it had foiled a pro-Russian attempt to overthrow the government of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy by members of a Kyiv-based NGO.[2][3][4][5]
| 2024 Ukrainian coup attempt | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Russian invasion of Ukraine | |||||||
 Image of the alleged primary ringleader taken by the SBU | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
  Russophiles[clarification needed]Supported by: Russia (per Ukraine)[1] | |||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
.svg){kind=small} Volodymyr Zelenskyy Vasyl Malyuk | Four unnamed activists | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Unknown | Two leaders detained | ||||||
Background
editIn February 2024, the Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine said that a coup may be attempted in the spring of 2024.[6][7]
In May 2024, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) arrested two army colonels who were engaged in a plot to kidnap Zelenskyy and deliver him to Russian President Vladimir Putin, or, should that prove too difficult, assassinate him.[8][2][9]
Events
editThe SBU announced that the plotters were preparing to detain the government and "announce the ‘removal from power’ of the current military-political leadership of Ukraine" before then seizing the Verkhovna Rada (Ukraine's national parliament) to prevent its ability to respond.[2][4][3] The SBU then published photos of the four ring leaders who had been arrested, with their faces blurred, stating that they were all residents of Ivano-Frankivsk and known pro-Russian agitators who had a history of attending anti-government protests.[2][5] The SBU also reported that they had seized a cache of assault rifles, sniper rifles, handguns, ammunition, laptops, mobile phones and hand-drawn coup instructions.[2] The centerpiece of the plot was to trigger a riot on June 30 as a distraction to seize control of various buildings.[2][10] They also planned to storm the Verkhovna Rada building.[11][12]
The plotters plans outlined spreading false information throughout the country via social media "to destabilise the socio-political situation within [Ukraine], which would play out in favour of the Russian Federation."[2][3] The plotters were spread throughout the country, operating in cells of no more than three, and communicated to one another through instant messaging via Telegram.[2] The leader of the plot stated that they would have organized as a "Veche" and would have sought public support.[2] The plotters had rented a hall in Kyiv that could accommodate upwards of 2,000, and were supposedly in contact with elements of the military and several mercenary groups to recruit them to their cause.[3][10] The SBU said that as well as mobilising in Kyiv, the coup plotters had grassroots organisations in Dnipro and other Ukrainian cities.[13]
The office of Ukraine’s prosecutor general said the alleged leader of the plot is a head of a non-governmental entity, who had "the experience of participating in fruitless provocative events" prior to the coup attempt.[14]
Four suspects have been identified and two currently are in the SBU's custody. They face up to 10 years in prison if found guilty.[15]
Reactions
edit
Russia: The Russian government refused to comment on the allegations that they had helped organize the plotters.[2][4]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Santora, Marc (1 July 2024). "Ukraine Says It Foiled Another Russian Plot to Topple the Government". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2 July 2024. Retrieved 3 July 2024 – via NYTimes.com.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Kilner, James. "Ukraine foils 'Russian-backed coup'". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 5 July 2024. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ a b c d Talmazan, Yuliya (2 July 2024). "Coup attempt thwarted in Ukraine, Security Service says, as Hungary's Orbán arrives in Kyiv for talks". NBC. Archived from the original on 2 July 2024. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ a b c Saric, Ivana. "Ukraine's security service foils coup attempt". Axios. Archived from the original on 2 July 2024. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ a b Santora, Marc (July 2024). "Ukraine Says It Foiled Another Russian Plot to Topple the Government". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2 July 2024. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ "Ukraine's intelligence committee fears attempt will be made in spring to overthrow Zelenskyy". Archived from the original on 20 May 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ "Ukrainian intelligence anticipates coup attempt this spring". Archived from the original on 18 May 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ Kilner, James (7 May 2024). "Ukraine arrests two security officials over plot to assassinate Zelensky". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 1 July 2024. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/05/07/ukraine-zelensky-assassination-plot-arrests/
- ^ a b Knight, Mariya; Harvey, Lex (2 July 2024). "Ukraine says it thwarted a plot to overthrow the government". CNN. Archived from the original on 2 July 2024. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ "Ukraine foils Russian-backed coup attempt – DW – 07/01/2024". Deutsche Welle. Archived from the original on 2 July 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ "Archived copy". MSN. Archived from the original on 2 July 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ Kilner, James. "Ukraine foils 'Russian-backed coup'". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 5 July 2024. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ "Ukraine says it thwarted a plot to overthrow the government". CNN. 2 July 2024. Archived from the original on 2 July 2024. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ "Ukraine's Security Service Thwarts Attempted Coup". News Radio 830 KHVH. Archived from the original on 2 July 2024. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
Notes
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