🧵1/ Ukraine Cites Mossad as Assassinations Multiply
Kyiv’s patiently constructed intelligence services and their assassins have more targets in their sights.
It's a clear message to russian war criminals.
Kyiv’s patiently constructed intelligence services and their assassins have more targets in their sights.
It's a clear message to russian war criminals.
2/ In late April, Ukrainian MP and ex-special forces commander Col. Roman Kostenko publicly stated:
Ukraine would follow Mossad’s example in hunting down those responsible for wartime atrocities for the next 10 to 30 years.
Ukraine would follow Mossad’s example in hunting down those responsible for wartime atrocities for the next 10 to 30 years.
3/ “This is only the beginning,” Kostenko warned. “They’ll be afraid to leave their homes.”
Ukraine isn’t bluffing. High-profile assassinations are already occurring inside Russia.
Ukraine isn’t bluffing. High-profile assassinations are already occurring inside Russia.
4/ A car bomb in April killed Gen. Yaroslav Moskalik - an officer who briefed Putin directly on the war.
In December, a scooter bomb in Moscow killed Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, just a day after Ukraine charged him with using banned chemical weapons.
In December, a scooter bomb in Moscow killed Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, just a day after Ukraine charged him with using banned chemical weapons.
5/ The head of Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU), Vasyl Malyuk, confirmed the strategy: “Every crime of the aggressor must be punished.”
And Ukraine has the means - cultural familiarity, language fluency, and personal ties - giving its agents deep access in Russia.
And Ukraine has the means - cultural familiarity, language fluency, and personal ties - giving its agents deep access in Russia.
6/ Ukraine's intelligence success didn’t happen overnight.
After the 2014 Euromaidan revolution and Yanukovych’s escape to Russia, the SBU was gutted.
Kyiv had to rebuild its intelligence services from scratch.
After the 2014 Euromaidan revolution and Yanukovych’s escape to Russia, the SBU was gutted.
Kyiv had to rebuild its intelligence services from scratch.
7/ Young, post-Soviet recruits - especially from western Ukraine - filled the ranks.
While the CIA was wary of working closely with the SBU due to corruption and Soviet legacy, it saw promise in the military intelligence agency, HUR.
While the CIA was wary of working closely with the SBU due to corruption and Soviet legacy, it saw promise in the military intelligence agency, HUR.
8/ In 2015, then-HUR chief Gen. Valerii Kondratyuk offered the CIA a goldmine of intel. One U.S. officer said: “They knew things we just, frankly, had no idea of.”
The CIA responded with gear, training, and deeper cooperation. It came with great personal risk for the general.
The CIA responded with gear, training, and deeper cooperation. It came with great personal risk for the general.
9/ “HUR was our little baby,” one U.S. official reportedly said.
This tight partnership turned Ukraine’s HUR into one of the most effective intelligence services operating against Russia.
This tight partnership turned Ukraine’s HUR into one of the most effective intelligence services operating against Russia.
10/ The Kremlin knows it. Russian security services treat Ukrainian intelligence with a mix of hatred and respect.
But Moscow simply views Ukraine a US & UK proxy.
This is a huge mistake.
The FSB doesn't know what's been coming their way.
But Moscow simply views Ukraine a US & UK proxy.
This is a huge mistake.
The FSB doesn't know what's been coming their way.
11/ HUR’s reach was visible as early as 2016, when Unit 2245 clashed with Russian FSB forces in occupied Crimea.
Two FSB agents were killed. The operation spooked Washington, leading to the sacking of Kondratyuk.
Washington was upset at Kyiv for angering Moscow.
Two FSB agents were killed. The operation spooked Washington, leading to the sacking of Kondratyuk.
Washington was upset at Kyiv for angering Moscow.
12/ Russia retaliated.
Maksym Shapoval, involved in the 2016 Crimea raid, was assassinated in 2017.
A bomb attack aimed at Kyrylo Budanov (now HUR’s head) failed when it detonated too early.
Maksym Shapoval, involved in the 2016 Crimea raid, was assassinated in 2017.
A bomb attack aimed at Kyrylo Budanov (now HUR’s head) failed when it detonated too early.
13/ Ukraine began its own campaign after rebuilding its intel agencies.
HUR/SBU eliminated several pro-Russian militant leaders in Donbas between 2015–2016, including “Motorola” and “Givi” - notorious for their brutality.
HUR/SBU eliminated several pro-Russian militant leaders in Donbas between 2015–2016, including “Motorola” and “Givi” - notorious for their brutality.
14/ Post-2022, Kyiv’s operations continued to scale.
Long-range strikes, car bombs, & even targeted shootings inside Russia have become part of its playbook.
This psychological pressure against Moscow is not welcomed by the West.
Western officals are scared of provoking RU.
Long-range strikes, car bombs, & even targeted shootings inside Russia have become part of its playbook.
This psychological pressure against Moscow is not welcomed by the West.
Western officals are scared of provoking RU.
15/ Still, Ukrainian officials believe these actions are effective.
“They demonstrate that fears of escalation are overstated,” said MP @SashaUstinovaUA
“They demonstrate that fears of escalation are overstated,” said MP @SashaUstinovaUA
@SashaUstinovaUA 16/ The killings “show Ukraine can reach high-level targets anywhere inside Russia and that capability has the potential to expose the internal fractures in Putin’s regime,” she said.
17/ And like Mossad’s decades-long hunt for Nazis, Ukraine’s message is clear:
There is no safe haven for those who committed atrocities in places like Bucha and Mariupol.
Kyiv is coming for all the russian war criminals.
There is no safe haven for those who committed atrocities in places like Bucha and Mariupol.
Kyiv is coming for all the russian war criminals.
Notable recent news: kyivindependent.com/us-sanctioned-…
Putin’s propaganda machine has accused Britain of providing explosives used in a series of high-profile assassinations inside Russia – and warned that “British blood must be spilled” in retaliation.
express.co.uk/news/world/204…
express.co.uk/news/world/204…
When a state is at peace, it has one way of dealing with its enemies,” Chervinsky said. “But during wartime, when your territory is occupied, you have to be more forceful.” newyorker.com/magazine/2025/…
Dec 2015, Pavel Dremov, bricklayer turned pro-Russian Cossack commander in occupied eastern Ukraine, was killed by a car bomb while driving a Range Rover.
SBU planted explosives in the vehicle, delivered to Dremov as a gift. Once he drove out, the SBU detonated the bomb.
SBU planted explosives in the vehicle, delivered to Dremov as a gift. Once he drove out, the SBU detonated the bomb.
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