There seems to be no end in sight to the war between Russian and Ukraine any time soon. However, according to Vadym Skibitsky, deputy head of the Ukrainian military intelligence service HUR, this could soon change.
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As reported by German media outlets news.de and Express magazine, the Ukrainian intelligence service is reportedly keeping a hit list with a number of important Russian names. At the top of the list: Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Targeted attack on 'Heart of Russia'
They are also targeting well-known names such as Yevgeny Prigozhin, Igor Girkin, and even Putin's favourite, Ramzan Kadyrov. In regards to Prigozhin in particular, Skibitsky said:
Our priority is to eliminate the unit commander who orders his men to attack.
When asked about Kyiv’s 'relationship' with Prigozhin, Skibitsky responded, 'We’re trying to kill him'.
However, the intelligence service is also targeting the 'heart of Russia', according to Express. Putin is at the top of Ukraine’s hit list 'because he coordinates and decides what happens'. Skibitsky added:
But in the end, everyone will have to answer for their actions. Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu planned the attack and now they cannot turn back.
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Situation is coming to a head for Putin
Furthermore, Skibitsky suspects that Putin already fears for his life and senses that the air is getting thin for him. According to Skibitsky, that so many of Putin's soldiers have already died is putting pressure on the Kremlin dictator and creating fear among the Russian population. He said:
Putin is noticing that we are getting closer and closer to him, but he is also afraid of being killed by his own people.
Indeed, cause for concern may already be an alleged attempted assassinationon the Russian President: only last month, news circulated reporting a failed drone assassination attempt.
According to the report, a drone loaded with 17 kilograms of explosives was said to have targeted an industrial park near Moscow that the President had intended to visit. German outlet the Berliner Zeitung, among others, reported on this.
This article has been adapted from Gentside DE.
Sources used:
news.de: 'Wladimir Putin: Ukraine-General enthüllt: Geheimdienst plant Putins Ermordung'
Express: 'General offenbart Spezial-Operation: 'Wir versuchen, Putin zu töten – er steht ganz oben''
Berliner Zeitung: 'Berichte: Anschlag mit 17 Kilo Sprengstoff sollte Putin töten'
Daily Beast: 'Ukrainian Spy Boss Bluntly Admits Plan to Assassinate Putin'