VIDEO // Authorities provide details on joint Moldova–Ukraine operation

Prosecutors of the PCCOCS, together with officers of the National Police and partners of Ukraine have provided details about a joint operation to combat a group involved in a contract killing scheme. Following investigations and searches, the authorities have detained a total of 11 people, and not three as previously announced.

According to the PCCOCS, four people were detained in Moldova and seven in Ukraine. They are suspected of having prepared murders targeting individuals from politics, journalism and the Ukrainian military sphere.

The group was planning assassinations against a journalist included on Russia’s “extremists” list, the head of a strategic state-owned enterprise, and military personnel from the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense, including fighters from the Foreign Legion. The suspects were to receive rewards through electronic wallets in order to avoid exposure.

The internationally coordinated operation included the arrest in Chișinău of the main recruiter, a 30-year-old man with a criminal record in Russia, who is believed to have maintained contact with coordinators from the Russian special services via the Telegram application. The other detainees are between 19 and 43 years old and come from Chișinău, Comrat, Orhei and Tighina.

Investigations showed that the suspects were preparing various methods of execution, ranging from shootings to car bombings, and were monitoring the targets using photographs, video recordings and digital maps.

During searches carried out in both countries, authorities seized weapons, ammunition, grenades and communication devices. Prosecutors have brought charges against the four people detained in Moldova and are requesting 30 days of pre-trial detention.