Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) announced on Monday that it had successfully foiled an alleged plot to overthrow the government, claiming the coup attempt “would have played into Russia’s hands.” This development comes as Ukraine continues to defend itself against Russia’s full-scale invasion, now in its third year.
According to the S.B.U., the alleged conspirators had devised a plan set to unfold on June 30. The scheme involved triggering a riot in Kyiv as a diversionary tactic, while the plotters would simultaneously move to seize control of the Ukrainian parliament and remove the military and political leadership from power.
Coup Plotters
While the S.B.U. has not explicitly linked the accused individuals to Russia, the timing and nature of the plot raise questions about potential connections. The security service reports that it has identified four primary suspects, two of them held in custody. If convicted, these individuals can be jailed for up to 10 years in prison.
In its investigation, the S.B.U. claims to have seized weapons and ammunition, as well as cellphones, computers and other records with evidence of criminal action. This evidence is expected to play a crucial role in the prosecution’s case against the alleged plotters.
Artem Dekhtyarenko, the spokesman for the S.B.U. said that the coup plotters,
“Planned to disseminate information about the unrest in Kyiv through domestic and foreign information resources.”
Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office provided additional details, stating that, the alleged coup leader rented a hall with a capacity of 2,000 people and recruited military personnel and armed guards from private companies to ‘carry out the seizure’ of parliament.
The scope of the alleged plot appears to have been extensive, with the S.B.U. noting,
“To implement the criminal plan, the main organizer involved several accomplices—representatives of the community organizations from Kyiv, Dnipro, and other regions.”
Russia-Ukraine War
This alleged coup attempt comes at a critical time for Ukraine, as it faces significant challenges in its ongoing war against Russia. Recent months have seen Russian forces making steady battlefield progress, taking advantage of, Ukraine’s diminishing manpower and reliance on the West for weapons – and uncertainty over the future of that military aid.”
The gravity of Ukraine’s situation was further underscored by a recent Russian missile strike on the southern town of Vilniansk. The attack killed seven people, including three children, prompting President Volodymyr Zelensky to appeal for more support from Ukraine’s allies.
Zelensky emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating,
“I am grateful to all partners who are helping. And the decisions we need must be accelerated. Any delay in decisions in this war means losing human lives.”
Adding to Ukraine’s concerns are recent statements made by former U.S. President Donald Trump during a presidential debate, where he questioned whether the United States should continue to fund Ukraine’s fight against Russia.
