Prez Zelenskyy survived three assassination attempts since Russia calls invasion: Reports

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has almost survived three assassination attempts since Russia called a full-scale invasion began last week, as per the reports. The plots were foiled after the Ukrainian officials were alerted about them.

The reports said that two different assassination groups were sent to kill the Ukrainian President- the Wagner group and Chechen rebels.

As per the reports, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) alerted the Ukrainians about a unit of Kadyrovites- elite Chechen special forces- sent to kill Zelenskyy. It quoted Oleksiy Danilov, the secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, as saying that these units were “destroyed.”

He further added that the Chechen special forces were killed on Saturday on the outskirts of Ukraine’s capital Kyiv. “And I can say that we got information from the FSB, who today do not want to become a part of this bloody war,” Danilov said.

Several reports stated that the intelligence inputs came from anti-war elements within the FSB.

The reports further added that, “Wagner mercenaries, meanwhile, were reportedly alarmed by how accurately the Ukrainians had anticipated their moves.”

The report said that, “The high-ranking official said it was “eerie” how well-briefed Zelenskyy’s security team appeared to be.

At the same time, the US offered to evacuate Zelenskyy at the beginning of the war in Ukraine, but he declined. He instead chose to stay in Kyiv amid the Russian bombardment at intimate quarters with his protection squad and closest aides.

His decision has also been praised by several nations, including France. In his address to the nation, President Emmanuel Macron called Zelenskyy “the face of honour, freedom and courage.”

Zelenskyy has said he fears he is the primary target of the Russian invasion. On Thursday, he also called for talks with President of Russia Vladimir Putin as the only way to finish the conflict.

President Zelenskyy, in a video address, said that, “If anyone thinks Ukraine will surrender, he knows nothing about Ukraine and has nothing to do in Ukraine.”