The Department of Justice unsealed an indictment in Manhattan federal court Tuesday accusing a network tied to Russian intelligence of plotting targeted killings on U.S. soil and in countries that back Ukraine. The indictment alleges that the network recruited U.S. residents to conduct surveillance on intended victims and offered large sums of money for murder contracts.
FBI’s relentless work breaks the plot
James C. Barnacle, Jr., head of the New York Field Office, praised the FBI’s “relentless work” in disrupting the scheme. He said the agency, together with partner organizations, stopped Russian operatives from intimidating, threatening, or murdering people in the United States and abroad.
Darren B. Cox, head of the Washington, D.C., office, added that “extraordinary work by multiple FBI field offices, components, and partner agencies” collectively thwarted attempts to conduct violent acts in the nation’s capital and across the country. He noted that once the threat was identified, the Washington field office and its partners moved quickly to disrupt the plot and hold the Russian government accountable.
Details of the alleged conspiracy
According to the indictment, the network has been active since at least 2024, conspiring to carry out attacks and murders worldwide, including within the United States. The group previously focused on Russian dissidents and defectors, but recent efforts shifted toward nations perceived as allies of Ukraine.
The indictment describes how, this summer, the network recruited an individual residing in the United States—identified only as “U.S. Resident-1″—to surveil a prominent Russian dissident believed to be living in the country. The recruit was given explicit instructions for surveillance and promised $1,000 and $1,500 for the work. After providing photographs and video of the target’s locations, the resident refused a subsequent offer of $40,000 to “eliminate” or “disappear” the individual.
When the initial offer was rejected, the Russian operatives allegedly attempted to recruit additional U.S. persons, offering substantial sums to complete the murder.
Administration’s response
President Trump’s administration praised the FBI’s swift action, emphasizing the importance of protecting American citizens from foreign threats. A White House spokesperson reiterated the administration’s commitment to strong law‑enforcement partnerships and to holding hostile foreign actors accountable for any attempts to harm U.S. residents.
The indictment also notes that the network sought to target civilian and military infrastructure in European countries aligned with Ukraine, underscoring the broader threat posed by hostile foreign intelligence services.
What comes next
Five individuals remain at large, and federal authorities continue to investigate the full scope of the conspiracy. The indictment serves as a reminder of the ongoing vigilance required to safeguard the nation against foreign plots and the critical role of the FBI and its partners in defending American security.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
