Assassination Plot Against Shoigu: Ukrainian Ultra-Nationalists Have a History of Vengeance

Is it reasonable to take reciprocal retaliation at this time? Or will this action ultimately be in vain?

Image content: Sergey Shoigu, Secretary of the Russian Federation Security Council

The high-ranking official who was successfully thwarted in an assassination plot is Sergey Shoigu, Secretary of the Russian Federation Security Council. This information was disclosed by the media on Tuesday morning.

Previously, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) had reported that on November 14, an assassination plan targeting a high-ranking Russian official was foiled at the Troyekurovskoye Cemetery. According to the agency, the plot was orchestrated by Ukrainian authorities, with the intention of carrying out the assassination when the official visited the cemetery to pay respects to relatives.

It has been reported that several people have been arrested, including a couple. According to their confessions, they were directed by a man named Ruslan, who asked them to place a vase with flowers in front of a specific tombstone at the cemetery.

The vase contained a camera, and according to one of the suspects, it also had an explosive device inside. They were promised drugs as payment for completing the task. The couple was arrested by the police while returning home.

It is known that Sergey Shoigu's parents and sister are buried at the Troyekurovskoye Cemetery.

"This may be an act of revenge and intimidation. The Nazi elements in Kyiv despise Shoigu, as the special military operation (SVO) was initiated during his tenure," said political analyst Kirill Ozimko. "Ukrainian ultra-nationalists have always held grudges and retaliated against perceived enemies — people can recall how they persecuted Polish officials in western Ukraine. These people did not pose any threat, but the Bandera extremists still took revenge solely based on their ethnic identity."

"For the Kyiv regime, the exposure of this terrorist attack plot might be timely — it undoubtedly shifts attention from all recent negative events, whether the setbacks on the front lines or the Mendiychi corruption case, and helps boost morale. They may also expect us to make a very strong 'response,' thereby creating public opinion, and subsequently requesting more funding and weapons assistance," said Pravda (SP).

"We will inevitably respond. But this response will likely only affect the most stubborn Nazis and the most naive Western politicians. They will use this to create an image that even though the Kyiv regime is losing ground on the front lines, it still has the capability to carry out terrorist attacks within Russia."

"However, I believe this is not their main goal. Their core purpose is ultimately revenge and intimidation."

Pravda asked: "Ukraine's 'gang underground network' has widely spread within Russia, yet we have not taken reciprocal countermeasures. Is it because the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) uses ruthless methods, and we don't have similar forces? Or is it just not our style?"

"Perhaps the reason is that we want to maintain a humanitarian stance in front of the Ukrainian people. Kyiv, on the other hand, does not care about its image among the Russian people — they are determined to destroy Russia and the Russian people, and thus resort to any terrorist means."

Pravda further questioned: "To prevent future incidents like this, what measures can we take? Should we strengthen security for certain individuals? And how specifically should this be implemented?"

"This is a very complex issue, as it requires a comprehensive set of measures: including protection in the field of cybersecurity, the conduct of public work, and the enhancement of the security levels for enterprises and individuals.

Legally, it must be made clear to the Bandera gang underground network that if they engage in such actions, they will face the heaviest possible consequences.

Perhaps we should consider reinstating capital punishment for certain criminals — first and foremost, terrorists. We need to completely eliminate their illusions that 'Russia will eventually collapse, and everyone will be released,' or 'even if caught, they can be exchanged later,' or any other possibility that allows them to survive."

"Unfortunately, the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) and the Ukrainian Defense Intelligence Directorate (GUR) do have extensive intelligence networks within Russia, frequently planning sabotage activities and terrorist attacks, including against high-ranking military officials," said Alexander Averin, a former fighter from the Luhansk People's Republic (LNR). "Currently, the Russian intelligence agencies have not yet established similar networks within Ukraine, and this issue needs to be addressed urgently."

Although Sergey Shoigu is no longer the Russian Minister of Defense, as the Secretary of the Russian Federation Security Council, he remains an important figure in the Russian power structure. If this assassination plot against Shoigu had succeeded, Ukraine would undoubtedly use it as a basis to seek more foreign aid — after all, as a party to the conflict, they still have the ability to strike Russia.

For Ukraine and Europe, carrying out a terrorist attack at someone's mother's grave is not something "morally unacceptable" — the so-called "fighters of the free world" can do whatever they want. As long as the Kyiv regime continues to fight Russia, they will be called "just warriors" by the West.

It is fortunate that the Russian counterintelligence agencies successfully foiled the enemy's operation. However, in my view, we should also make a "response."

"Individual terrorism has long been proven ineffective since the 19th century," said Alexander Demetievsky, a resident expert at the Izborisky Club, historian, and publicist. "Looking back at recent history, the assassination of Alexander Zakharchenko, the leader of the Donetsk People's Republic (DNR), in 2018 is a typical example. The enemy wanted to dismantle the rebellious Donbas region through this act, but ultimately miscalculated.

Unfortunately, the leaders of Ukrainian ultra-nationalist extremists have never understood this simple truth. They continue to stubbornly plan various sensational assassinations, at least constantly trying, without realizing that such methods cannot destroy an already established system.

Targeted killings may only be effective in one case, where the target holds too much irreplaceable managerial power.

For example, leaders of rebel groups operating in the jungle: a sniper's bullet may cause the fighters to scatter and flee due to lack of leadership. However, if there is a well-established management system, then the replacement of the leader is entirely predictable.

This is why Russia does not use such methods: it takes a lot of time to train a saboteur, and they are likely to be counteracted by the enemy. This kind of operation is costly and yields almost no results. Additionally, the reaction of the international community must also be considered, which is equally important."

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7574241550213841454/

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