President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s security service announced on Monday that it had thwarted a coup attempt that would have “played into Russia’s hands” as Ukrainian forces continued to fight Russian troops in the east.
SBU Foils Major Coup Plot ?
The revelation came just before Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, one of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s few European allies, was set to visit Kyiv on Tuesday for talks with Zelenskyy.
According to a Telegram post by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) on Monday, a group of individuals was planning “a series of provocations” in Kyiv. The group was reportedly led by a co-founder of a public organization known for “anti-Ukrainian actions” since 2015, though neither the individual nor the organization was named.
The SBU stated that the suspects had called for a public gathering in central Kyiv on Sunday and planned to declare the removal of the country’s military and political leadership. They then intended to seize the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine’s parliament.
The plotters “hoped to stir up the social and political situation within our country, which would work in Russia’s favor,” the SBU said, though it did not confirm whether the Kremlin was directly involved.
The SBU did not disclose the identities or the number of suspects detained. However, it stated that they are facing charges of attempting to overthrow the constitutional order and seize power, which could result in up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
In a separate statement, Ukraine’s Office of the Prosecutor General said the group’s leader had sought the assistance of military members and private security guards to execute the plan.