Russian law enforcement agents have detained a gunman who was planning to assassinate a high-ranking military officer in St. Petersburg at the behest of Ukrainian intelligence, the Federal Security Service (FSB) has said.

In a statement on Friday, the FSB said the suspect made contact with a Ukrainian recruiter through the Telegram messaging app and volunteered to carry out a “terrorist attack in support of the Kiev regime.” 

Acting on instructions from a handler, he was given a firearm, carried out reconnaissance of the officer’s home address, and made preparations for the assassination, the agency said. While the FSB did not provide any details on the would-be target, the suspect claimed he had the rank of lieutenant colonel.

During the arrest, officers seized a loaded Makarov pistol fitted with a device for silent shooting, the FSB said. The agency released a clip of several operatives pinning the suspect to the ground on a snow-covered street.

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