Russian federal authorities announced on Friday that the Federal Security Service (FSB) successfully disrupted an alleged assassination plot against senior officials of Roskomnadzor, the country’s federal service responsible for overseeing communications, information technology, and mass media. 

According to the FSB’s public relations center, counterterrorism units prevented a planned terrorist attack on April 18, 2026, that involved detonating an explosive device in a vehicle carrying high-ranking Roskomnadzor leaders. 

The security service described the operation as a significant blow to what it called foreign-backed extremist violence aimed at undermining Russia’s information security measures. 

The FSB stated that the plot was orchestrated by Ukrainian special services, which allegedly recruited supporters of neo-fascist and right-wing radical ideology through Telegram messenger chats. Seven suspects were detained during operations in Moscow, Ufa, Novosibirsk, and Yaroslavl. The alleged leader of the group — a 20-year-old Moscow resident born in 2004 — reportedly opened fire on FSB officers during an attempted arrest and was shot dead in the exchange. 

“On April 18, 2026, a terrorist act against the leaders of Roskomnadzor was prevented, which was planned by blowing up a car using an explosive device,” the FSB said in its official statement.

Russian authorities framed the foiled attack as part of broader efforts by Ukraine to disrupt Russia’s domestic internet regulation and censorship policies, including recent blocks on certain messaging platforms. Roskomnadzor has played a central role in tightening controls over online content, blocking websites, and enforcing compliance with Russian media laws amid the ongoing conflict with Ukraine.

No independent verification of the FSB’s claims was immediately available, and Ukrainian officials have not commented on the allegations as of Friday afternoon.

This incident comes amid heightened security concerns in Russia, where authorities have reported multiple foiled plots and assassinations targeting officials and military figures in recent months. The FSB has repeatedly accused Ukrainian intelligence of orchestrating such operations on Russian soil.

The development was first reported by Russian state-aligned media outlets and quickly picked up by international wires. Videos released by the FSB reportedly show the detention of suspects at their homes.

So far, no further details on the exact explosive device or additional evidence linking the suspects to Ukrainian handlers have been publicly disclosed by the FSB. (ILKHA)