Russian Intelligence Network Exposed in U.S. Assassination Plot

A series of indictments from the U.S. Department of Justice has unveiled a plot by members of the Russian Intelligence Services who were allegedly planning an assassination on American soil. One alarming detail from the court documents pointed to the existence of a hitman team operating out of Mexico.

The investigation kicked off this summer when the Russian intelligence network enlisted a Venezuelan national residing in the U.S. to conduct surveillance on a high-profile individual, identified as a dissident by the group. Court filings indicated that this operation involved three Russians, one Cuban, and one Venezuelan. They assigned the other Venezuelan to surveil the target’s residence and coordinate his murder.

The intelligence operatives compensated the Venezuelan man with $1,500 for his surveillance work and promised him $40,000 for the killing itself. In a chat using encrypted messaging apps, Yaidel “Viking” Delgado Suarez, a Cuban associate, disclosed that his superiors were pressuring him to finish the job. He mentioned having a team ready in Mexico, but, curiously, they were preoccupied at that moment.

The U.S. Department of Justice identified the members of this group as follows:

• Yuri “Colonel Yuri” Khrameev, 63, from Russia, previously a colonel in the Russian intelligence services.
• Kirill Khrameev, 27, also from Russia, an officer in the FSB.
• Oemis Romagoza Durruthy, 35, from Cuba, and Yuri Khrameev’s son, who is a significant figure in the Cuban community in Russia.
• Yaidel “Viking” Delgado Suarez, 35, a Cuban who has sought to recruit various individuals in the United States.
• Angel Eduardo Castro, 22, from Venezuela, who assisted Suarez in recruiting individuals for surveillance and assassination tasks.

The group has been indicted by a grand jury in the Southern District of New York, and they are currently considered fugitives, thought to be in Russia. Interestingly, the court documents do not identify the U.S. resident involved in the surveillance or indicate if he faces any charges.

The information gleaned from the court filings suggests that a mysterious cell of hitmen in Mexico was unable to fulfill the assassination order in Washington, D.C. This case underscores the rising worry about Russian operatives working in Mexico, often masquerading as diplomats. In a report released in July, the U.S. Department of State noted an increase in the presence of “senior Russian spies” in Mexico, sparking tensions with the U.S.

In a somewhat related incident, in January 2025, as the Biden administration was wrapping up, reports surfaced about a Russian mercenary with the Wagner Group, Timur Praliev, who was arrested in Roma, Texas. He had entered the U.S. posing as a migrant, with authorities discovering a drone and a substantial amount of cash in his possession. At the time, the motivations behind his entry were unclear, and he faced only charges for illegal entry, serving a short sentence. His current status remains uncertain.