Ukraine’s SBU security service alleged Thursday that a commander of the Russian Volunteer Corps, a unit of far-right Russians fighting alongside Ukrainian forces, was recruited by Moscow to assassinate a Russian opposition figure.
In a statement, the SBU, without identifying the commander by name, claimed that the “individual” was in contact with Russia’s FSB security service and tasked with “preparing the assassination” of an opposition figure who was expected to arrive in Ukraine on Aug. 24, when the country celebrates its national day of independence.
The Ukrainian agency said the accused commander gave a confession and provided information that helped it identify other people said to have been involved in the assassination plot. It did not identify the targeted Russian opposition figure.
While the SBU did not explicitly name the Russian Volunteer Corps commander, a confession video attached to its statement appears to show Stepan Kaplunov, deputy commander of combat operations for the unit.
Kaplunov, who Ukrainian media previously reported was the target of the assassination plot, told Ukraine’s Radio NV that SBU officers “kidnapped” him and forced him to deliver a false confession under duress.
