Yusov commented on the attempted assassination against him and the work of the Russian intelligence services
Andriy Yusov, a representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense, commented on reports of an assassination attempt against him, stating that such actions are part of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine. He emphasized that Russian intelligence agencies are actively recruiting operatives, particularly from among vulnerable individuals. According to him, Ukrainian law enforcement agencies are countering such attempts.
Andriy Yusov, a spokesperson for the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense, stated that assassination attempts against Ukrainian officials are not isolated incidents but are part of a broader context of full-scale war. He said that Russia continues to use various methods of influence, including the recruitment of operatives for such operations.
Commenting on reports of an assassination attempt against him, Yusov emphasized that working in wartime entails constant risks. “This isn’t the first time. It’s happened before. In fact, during this full-scale invasion, Ukrainians—first and foremost the young men and women on the front lines, but also every Ukrainian in the rear—face danger every day,” he said.
He added that those who work in the security and defense sectors understand the level of threat from the very beginning of their service. “And anyone who has taken the oath and pledged allegiance to serving the Ukrainian people knows full well that it won’t be easy. That’s why it’s part of our service and our work,” Yusov noted.
Separately, the intelligence official emphasized that both Ukrainian special services and law enforcement agencies have significantly strengthened their capabilities during the war, particularly in countering sabotage and long-range operations. At the same time, the Russian side is also adapting its methods. “They do not hesitate to use minors and people in difficult life circumstances. They use money, which Putin has plenty of for such special operations,” he said.
Yusov emphasized that Russian intelligence agencies have significant resources for conducting such operations, but Ukrainian security forces are responding to these threats. “Russian intelligence agencies have unlimited budgets for such operations. So yes, this is a war—both on the front lines and behind them—that is ongoing,” he added.
According to him, Ukrainian counterintelligence and police continue to work to prevent such incidents, and joint law enforcement operations have already yielded results.
On June 23, law enforcement officers exposed a middleman who, according to the investigation, was seeking a hitman to assassinate a representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense and the deputy head of the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War.
The Russian public needs to be informed about the true state of affairs in the Russian Federation. This was stated by Andriy Yusov, a representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, who emphasized the importance of information outreach.
