The SSU announced the arrest, Ukrinform reports.

According to the investigation, the suspect is a 69-year-old resident of Kharkiv.

Investigators say a Russian handler instructed the pensioner to kill Obolenskyi, falsely claiming that the Commander was collaborating with Russia. To support the deception, Russian operatives allegedly sent the suspect an AI-generated image depicting Obolenskyi standing on Moscow’s Red Square wearing a T-shirt bearing the Russian military’s “Z” symbol.

According to the available evidence, Russian intelligence also arranged for the would-be assassin to receive a firearm through a courier. Authorities are working to identify that individual.

The detainee is expected to be formally charged under Article 115 (premeditated murder) and Article 263 (illegal handling of firearms, ammunition, or explosives) of Ukraine’s Criminal Code.

The pre-trial investigation is ongoing. Law enforcement agencies are taking steps to establish all the circumstances of the crime and bring everyone involved to justice.

The SSU stressed that this is not the first case in which Russian intelligence has attempted to recruit Ukrainian citizens while impersonating Ukrainian law enforcement officers.

The agency again urged citizens to remain vigilant, emphasizing that the SSU operates strictly within Ukrainian law, does not assign suspicious tasks, and does not send official documents via messaging apps.

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The SSU called on anyone approached with such proposals, or anyone with information about Russian intelligence activities or online recruitment efforts, to report them through its Expose the FSB Agent chatbot, by phone, or via email.

As reported by Ukrinform, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on July 31 that an attempt had been made on the life of the Khartiia Corps Commander. The attacker and an accomplice were detained.

Photo: SSU