Ukrainian security forces reported on Sunday that they had located and killed two suspected Russian operatives linked to the assassination of a senior officer. The Ukrainian Security Services (SBU) revealed that the operatives were “neutralized” in the Kyiv region as a direct response to the daytime killing of SBU Colonel Ivan Volonich on Thursday.
According to sources, Volonich was attacked while filmed by surveillance cameras and was believed to be involved in covert activities within the regions occupied by Russia. It’s thought he helped coordinate a surprise operation in Russia’s Kask region last year.
The SBU’s statement mentioned, “During the special operation, our agents eliminated the Russian operatives responsible for the murder of Colonel Volonich, operating under orders from Russia’s FSB.”
The investigation suggested that the male and female suspects had tracked Volonich’s movements, retrieving a silenced pistol from a location before executing the hit.
SBU head Vasyl Malyuk stated that the Russian suspect was “neutralized” after resisting arrest. He added that the FSB combat group had arrived in Ukraine beforehand and was responsible for the recent murder. “We uncovered enemy hideouts through secret investigations and aggressive counter-intelligence actions. During their capture, resistance led to a firefight, and as a result, the operatives were eliminated,” he said, emphasizing the peril for any adversary on Ukrainian soil.
Last Thursday, sources indicated that Volonich was approached by an assailant around 9 a.m., who shot him five times before fleeing the scene. Footage apparently showed the colonel being ambushed while heading towards his vehicle, ultimately dying from his injuries.
Both Russia and Ukraine have engaged in targeted killings since the onset of the war in February 2022.
