The US Department of Justice has unsealed an indictment alleging five people worked for Russian intelligence to plan attacks and murders, including plots on US soil. The indictment names two Russian nationals and three foreign nationals who are accused of financing terrorism and, in some cases, murder-for-hire. Authorities say recruits in the US and abroad were offered payments of $40,000 and $25,000 to eliminate targets; the Kremlin has denied the allegations pending credible evidence.
US Alleges Russian Intelligence Orchestrated Assassination Plots Targeting Ukraine Supporters
Todd Blanche, the US Attorney General, says the people allegedly working for Russian intelligence services are still at large - BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images
The US Department of Justice has unsealed an indictment accusing five people of working for Russian intelligence to plan attacks and murders against supporters of Ukraine in Western countries, including plots on US soil.
Indictment and Charges
The indictment, unsealed on Tuesday, alleges the five defendants "worked for Russian intelligence services to conduct attacks and murders around the world, including in the United States." The suspects remain at large, Acting U.S. Attorney Todd Blanche said.
The indictment names the following individuals, who are accused of conspiring to finance terrorism:
- Yuri Khrameev, Russian national, 63
- Kirill Khrameev, Russian national, 27 (Yuri's son)
- Oemis Romagoza Durruthy, Cuban national, 35
- Yaidel Delgado Suarez, Cuban national, 35
- Angel Eduardo Castro, Venezuelan national, 22
According to the indictment, Kirill Khrameev, Yaidel Delgado Suarez and Angel Eduardo Castro were also charged with conspiracy to commit murder for hire. The Department of Justice says at least three of the defendants were "high-ranking members of the RIS [Russian Intelligence Service] network."
Alleged Plots and Recruitments
Federal authorities allege the network recruited people in the United States and abroad to provide surveillance and to carry out attacks on individuals perceived to be aligned with Ukraine. Prosecutors say one US-based recruit was offered $40,000 to "eliminate" or "disappear" a target living in the United States, while another recruit was offered $25,000 last year to kill someone in Lithuania.
Acting U.S. Attorney Todd Blanche told reporters the alleged plots included "efforts to murder a Russian dissident who investigators believed was located in the Washington, DC, area." The indictment says some incidents occurred as recently as this summer.
"It is our job to stop America's adversaries from unleashing violence and terror on American soil," Blanche said.
FBI Deputy Assistant Director James Barnacle, of the New York office, said the group "conspired to intimidate, threaten, or murder people on US soil and around the world."
Russian Response
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to confirm the allegations, telling reporters the Russian government would need to see "credible evidence and arguments based on tangible facts" before commenting. Russia has previously denied conducting such plots on foreign soil.
Context and Next Steps
The indictment alleges a global campaign of intimidation and planned violence directed at critics and dissidents. All defendants are currently at large. The Justice Department and the FBI continue to investigate; the charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
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