Ukraine has thwarted an alleged plot to overthrow the government, which would have benefited Russia, according to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU).
In a Telegram post on Monday night, July 1, the SBU claimed that the coup organizers planned to incite a riot in Kyiv on June 30 to distract from their attempt to seize control of the Ukrainian parliament and oust the military and political leadership.
While Russia has been conducting a full-scale invasion against Ukraine for nearly two and a half years, it remains unclear if there is any connection between Russia and the alleged coup attempt.
Four suspects have been identified, with two currently in custody, according to the SBU. If convicted, the suspects could face up to 10 years in prison. The SBU reported seizing weapons, ammunition, cell phones, computers, and other records containing evidence of criminal activities.
Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office revealed that the alleged coup leader rented a hall with a capacity of 2,000 people and recruited military personnel and armed guards from private companies to "carry out the seizure" of parliament. It is uncertain if more suspects are being sought by prosecutors.
“To implement the criminal plan, the main organizer involved several accomplices—representatives of community organizations from Kyiv, Dnipro, and other regions,” the SBU stated.
This alleged coup attempt in Kyiv comes as Russia has made recent battlefield gains, taking advantage of Ukraine's dependence on the West for weapons.
In addition, Russian forces killed seven people, including three children, in a missile strike on the southern town of Vilniansk on Saturday, as reported by Ukrainian officials. This prompted President Volodymyr Zelensky to appeal for more long-range weapons.
“I am grateful to all partners who are helping. And the decisions we need must be accelerated. Any delay in decisions in this war means losing human lives,” Zelensky wrote on Telegram.
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