Details of how the two soldiers who were arrested yesterday planned to assassinate the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, were released by the country’s security services, despite the fact that the same services had not provided information about previous assassination plans against him.

According to what was released by the Security Service of Ukraine two Ukrainian colonels, who were not named, were allegedly plotting the assassination of the Ukrainian president. The two colonels belonged to the State Security Administration, which protects top officials. They were recruited ahead of the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

At the same time, they planned to assassinate the head of the intelligence services of the Ukrainian army, Kirill Budanovand the head of Ukrainian intelligence Vasil Maliuk.

Both colonels are accused of treason while one is also accused of preparing a terrorist act.

According to the agencies, weapons for the attack were given to one of the two colonels, including attack drones, ammunition for a rocket launcher and anti-personnel mines. The colonel was to hand over the weapons to other agents who would carry out the attack.

Regarding Zelensky’s assassination, a video released by security services showed a man identified as one of the two colonels, his face blurred, detailing the plan against the Ukrainian president that included the blockade of Zelensky as he entered or left a building.

As for the assassination attempt targeting General Budanov, the agencies said it was planned to take place before the Orthodox Easter.

Russia had no immediate comment on the allegations.

General Budanov’s wife was poisoned late last year, according to Ukrainian military intelligence, in an incident that led to widespread speculation that Russia was stepping up efforts to target Ukraine’s senior leadership.

General Budanov said in February that it was difficult to say whether the poisoning was an assassination attempt against him, but hinted that Russia was behind it.

However, this is not the first time that Zelensky has been the target of an assassination attempt, according to Ukraine’s security services. Just last month, the SBU reported that it had arrested, in cooperation with Polish security services, a Pole who offered to spy for Russia as part of a plot to assassinate Zelensky.