Russian authorities have detained a 21-year-old Moldovan citizen accused of taking part in an attempted assassination of a senior Russian military officer, according to the country’s Federal Security Service (FSB). Investigators allege that the suspect was recruited by Ukrainian intelligence and was paid to carry out the attack.
The officer was shot at least six times on September 3 near Engels in Russia’s Saratov region. He survived the attack and remains hospitalized, authorities said.
Suspect Allegedly Recruited for $70,000
The FSB said the Moldovan national was recruited in 2025 and later entered Russia to carry out the operation. Authorities allege that he was offered approximately $70,000 for the killing.
Russian investigators said the suspect was arrested in the southern Astrakhan region while allegedly attempting to leave Russia and return to Moldova. He is facing charges related to attempted murder and illegal arms trafficking.
Russian authorities have not publicly identified the wounded officer. The shooting took place in the Probuzhdenie settlement on the outskirts of Engels, an area of strategic importance because of its military facilities and long-range bomber operations.
Ukraine and Russia Exchange Accusations
The alleged attack comes amid a continuing pattern of violence targeting Russian military personnel and individuals associated with Moscow’s war effort in Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appeared to refer to the shooting shortly after it occurred, saying Russian figures involved in the war would be found. However, there was no immediate official statement from Ukrainian authorities directly addressing Russia’s allegations against the detained Moldovan citizen. Moldovan officials also had not publicly commented on the arrest.
The latest case follows several attacks inside Russia. In late August, a Russian serviceman was killed and his wife wounded in a car bombing near St. Petersburg. Earlier, a defense-industry executive linked to military drone production was seriously injured in a vehicle explosion near Yekaterinburg.
Moscow Tightens Security Around Officials
The arrest comes as Russian authorities increase security measures around military and government officials following a series of attacks.
Ukraine has previously acknowledged responsibility for some operations against Russian military figures. In 2024, Ukraine’s security service said it was behind the killing of Russian Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, who was killed by a bomb concealed in a scooter outside his Moscow apartment building.
The latest detention is likely to further intensify tensions between Moscow and Kyiv as the Russia-Ukraine war continues and both sides remain engaged in attacks beyond the main battlefield.
