Assassination Plot Against Putin Thwarted, Russian Authorities Claim
Assassination Plan Circulates Telegram
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June 30, 2023
Assassination Plot Against Putin Thwarted, Russian Authorities Claim
Screencapture of the “suspicious” barge
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
Russian authorities have announced the thwarting of an alleged assassination attempt on President Vladimir Putin, raising new questions about the security of the nation's leader and the potential impact on the geopolitical landscape.
The Federal Protection Service (FSO), a Russian agency responsible for the protection of high-ranking state officials, has said explosives were discovered under a bridge that Putin was expected to travel across. The incident has been described as an effort to "assassinate Putin" amid an ongoing Ukrainian counter-offensive.
The assassination plot was reportedly uncovered by the FSO after an officer reported a suspicious barge under the bridge. According to the Telegram channel VChK-OGPU, the FSO was inspecting information about the preparation of the assassination attempt involving explosives at the bottom of the Moskva River, which was allegedly laid from a barge.
The Telegram channel source, translated into English with software, detailed the plot:
“As it turned out, in the morning the FSO was checking information about the preparation of an assassination attempt on Putin with the help of explosives at the bottom of the Moskva River, laid down from a barge.”
The channel went on to explain that a duty officer of the Federal Security Service of Russia had reported a “suspicious barge”underneath the Moskva .
Divers were reportedly seen entering the water after the suspect barge was instructed to move, ostensibly due to the movement of motorcades over the bridge. The FSO is said to have checked the documents of the crew, believed to have been carrying out repairs on the bridge. As of yet, no information about the detection of explosives or the identities of those involved has been released.
The suspect barge is believed to be on a route between the Kremlin and Putin's official residence outside of Moscow, according to a report by the Daily Star cited by the VChK-OGPU telegram channel.
This incident marks the latest in a series of security concerns surrounding Putin, who has been the target of several alleged assassination plots in the past. The purported attempt on Putin's life comes at a time of heightened tensions between Russia and Ukraine, potentially adding another layer of complexity to the ongoing conflict.
While the details of the alleged assassination plot continue to unfold, the incident is likely to have far-reaching implications for Russian politics and international relations. It highlights the ongoing security threats faced by world leaders, and the intricate, often clandestine measures taken to ensure their safety.