US Justice Department Charges Russian Intelligence Operatives in Plot Involving Assassinations and Terrorism

Indictment Targets Members of Russian Spy Network

According to 5 канал: The US Department of Justice has formally charged five individuals linked to a Russian intelligence network with orchestrating contract killings, recruiting operatives for terrorist attacks across Europe, and plotting an assassination attempt on a Russian dissident in Washington, D.C. The case has been brought before the Federal Court for the Southern District of New York. These operatives have been active since at least 2024 and maintain connections to the Kremlin’s covert elimination apparatus.

Details of the Charges

The indictment accuses the group of conspiracy to finance terrorism, carrying a potential sentence of up to 20 years imprisonment. Three members face additional charges related to conspiracy to commit contract murder, which could result in up to 10 years behind bars. The leadership of the group includes:

• Yuri Khramyev, a 63-year-old former colonel in Russian special services
• Kirill Khramyev, a 27-year-old career officer in the FSB
• Oemis Romagoza Durruti, a 35-year-old Cuban national residing in Russia

Recruitment efforts were led by 35-year-old Cuban Yaidel Delgado Suarez and 22-year-old Venezuelan Angel Eduardo Castro.

In the summer of 2026, the suspects recruited a US resident, offering up to $1,500 for surveillance and $40,000 for the assassination of an opposition figure in Washington. Previously, Yuri Khramyev attempted to hire a mercenary in Lithuania with a $25,000 payment to eliminate a dissident using a knife or a gasoline bottle. When the mercenary refused, the operation shifted to arson attacks on food warehouses and substations, targeting countries supporting Ukraine. Coordination of terror plots in Prague and Lithuania in 2024 was overseen by Oemis Romagoza Durruti.

All five accused remain at large. Meanwhile, perception of corruption within the US government has reached a two-decade high. Surveys indicate that 89% of American adults view government corruption as widespread. Among Democrats, this perception climbed from 57% in 2024 to 76% in 2025 and surged to 91% in 2026.

“Our mission is to prevent America's adversaries from carrying out violence and terror on US soil. This is exactly what the FBI and Justice Department prosecutors are working to achieve,” said Todd Blanche.

These indictments highlight an escalation in Russian intelligence operations abroad and their attempts to influence countries backing Ukraine. Within the broader geopolitical context, such activities risk deepening tensions between the United States and Russia. Additionally, the rising belief in government corruption could undermine public trust in US institutions and their capacity to address security challenges effectively.