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Wednesday, Feb 18, 2026

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Ukrainian Intelligence Official Admits to Assassination Attempts on Putin

Deputy Head of Ukraine's General Intelligence Directorate reveals that Ukrainian special units are targeting high-profile Russian figures, including President Putin, amidst escalating tension and covert operations deep within Russian territory.
The Deputy Head of the General Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry admitted that the special units in the directorate are trying to eliminate the President of Russia, as well as the head of the "Wagner" group, Prigozhin, and the commander of the Russian army's air and space forces. However, they are struggling due to the multitude of doubles of the Russian president.

The Deputy Head of the General Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, Vadim Skibitsky, admitted this morning (Thursday) that the special units in the directorate are trying to eliminate Russian President Vladimir Putin, as well as the head of the "Wagner" group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, and the Commander of the Air and Space Forces of the Russian Army, General Sergei Surovikin, who recently served as the commander of the Russian forces in Ukraine.

According to Skibitsky, who is the second most important person in the Ukrainian organization, the elimination of President Putin is at the top of the directorate's and Ukraine's priority lists. However, in an interview with the German newspaper "Die Welt", the Deputy Head of the Directorate clarified that the forces are having trouble reaching President Putin, as he remains secluded and is almost never seen in public. "Now he is beginning to show his head," emphasized Skibitsky, adding that even when Putin appears in public, the Ukrainian intelligence agency is not sure if it is really him or, alternatively, his double.

Yesterday, the American newspaper "New York Times" revealed from senior American security officials that the United States estimates that the Ukrainian security forces are the ones responsible for the drone attack on the Kremlin that occurred at the beginning of the month. According to the report in the newspaper, US intelligence agencies estimate that Ukraine was the one that launched the drones, and it is possible that the operation was carried out without the knowledge of President Zelensky and his security leadership. This is to allow them the space for public denial.

In light of the increasing mysterious attacks deep within Russian territory, Skibitsky claimed that Putin "realizes that we are getting closer to him," which may indicate Ukraine's intentions and abilities to operate deep inside Russia, something that until the report in the "New York Times", was highly questionable.

"Putin is afraid to be killed by his own people, and since he coordinates and decides what happens in the war in Ukraine, he is at the top of our assassination target list," said Skibitsky. "There is a long list of assassination targets, including Shoigu (Sergei Shoigu, Russian Defense Minister). Everyone will have to pay a price for their actions in the Ukrainian war."
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