Russia Alleges Foiled Plot to Assassinate Senior Putin-Linked Cleric

FSB claims Ukrainian intelligence recruited two suspects to target Metropolitan Tikhon Shevkunov, but Kyiv denies involvement.

Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) says it prevented an assassination attempt on Tikhon Shevkunov, a senior Russian Orthodox cleric closely linked to President Vladimir Putin.
Two suspects, one Ukrainian and one Russian, were arrested and accused of plotting to plant an explosive device in Shevkunov's Moscow quarters at the Sretensky Monastery.
The FSB claims the suspects were recruited by Ukrainian military intelligence via Telegram in 2024 and had fake Ukrainian passports for escape after the attack.
Videos released by Russian authorities show the suspects confessing to the plot under unclear circumstances, with one alleging threats to his family if he refused to participate.
Ukraine has dismissed the accusations as baseless, stating its military operations adhere to international rules, while skepticism surrounds Russia's claims given past allegations of fabricated plots.