Key facts
- Russian authorities detained a 21-year-old Moldovan national.
- The suspect is accused of shooting a senior Russian Defense Ministry officer on Sept. 3.
Russian authorities have detained a 21-year-old Moldovan national suspected of shooting a Russian Defense Ministry officer on Sept. 3. The Federal Security Service alleges the suspect was recruited by Ukrainian intelligence services and offered $70,000 to carry out the attack.
The detention of a Moldovan citizen accused of acting on Ukrainian orders highlights escalating tensions and potential cross-border attacks related to the Russia-Ukraine war, impacting regional security and diplomatic relations.
Russian authorities announced Tuesday the detention of a 21-year-old Moldovan national suspected of shooting a senior Russian Defense Ministry officer on September 3. The Federal Security Service (FSB) alleges the suspect was recruited by Ukrainian intelligence services in 2025 and offered $70,000 to carry out the attack.
The officer was shot multiple times in the Saratov region, home to a large air force base. He survived and is hospitalized. The FSB stated the suspect was apprehended in the Astrakhan region as he attempted to flee to Moldova.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had previously alluded to the attack, stating that Russian criminals would be found. This incident follows a series of bombings in Russia targeting individuals involved in the invasion of Ukraine, with Moscow blaming Kyiv for some of these attacks. Earlier this year, President Vladimir Putin had directed security agencies to enhance protection for military and government officials.