SBU Intercepts FSB-linked Plot to Kill Kyiv Kickboxing Leader
Ukrainian security services detained a suspect in a foiled assassination attempt against a former soldier and sports official in Kyiv.
Key points
- SBU foiled an FSB-linked plot to assassinate the president of Ukraine's K-1 kickboxing federation in Kyiv.
- The suspect, a woman from occupied Melitopol, was recruited via a deal to close a drug case and trained in occupied territory.
- The incident follows recent arrests in Poland and Ukraine of individuals accused of planning similar attacks on public figures.
Ukraine’s Security Service announced on September 22 that it had disrupted an alleged plot orchestrated by Russian intelligence to assassinate a former serviceman who currently serves as the head of the national K-1 kickboxing federation. The SBU stated that the individual, who has fought for Ukraine since 2022, was targeted for elimination while working as a coach at a sports facility in Kyiv.
While the SBU did not publicly identify the victim, Ukrainian media outlet Kyiv Independent reported that the target is Akhmad Akhmedov. According to the security agency, the suspect was caught conducting reconnaissance near the location where the shooting was planned to take place, effectively halting the operation before any harm could be inflicted.
Suspect recruited through criminal incentives
The individual detained by authorities is a 30-year-old woman residing in Russian-occupied Melitopol. The SBU claims she was recruited by Russian intelligence in exchange for the closure of a criminal case involving illegal drug possession. Following this recruitment, she underwent training at an FSB facility in occupied territory, where she was reportedly instructed in operational security, navigation, and the use of firearms.
After completing her training, the suspect entered Ukrainian-controlled territory via Belarus in August 2026. She then traveled to Zhytomyr before moving to Kyiv, where she was eventually apprehended. The SBU stated that she is currently held in custody without bail and faces a potential sentence of life imprisonment with confiscation of property if convicted.
Pattern of targeted threats across Europe
This incident contributes to a growing number of investigations in Ukraine and across Europe regarding Russian-linked plots targeting officials, military personnel, and public figures. In August, Polish authorities arrested a Russian national accused of preparing to kill a U.S.-Ukrainian dual citizen in Warsaw, highlighting the transnational nature of these alleged operations.
Furthermore, Ukrainian law enforcement detained a man in June who was allegedly planning to assassinate Andrii Yusov, a military intelligence spokesperson, using an FPV drone. That case marked the second publicly known Russian-linked assassination plot targeting Yusov in 2026, underscoring the persistent security challenges faced by prominent figures in the region.
