Ukrainian intelligence struck in Russia – a high-ranking commander was liquidated

Ukrainian news sources reported that Ukrainian intelligence services carried out a successful operation on the territory of Russia, in the city of Belgorod.

According to reports, they targeted Oleksandr Slesarenko, who previously worked in the Ukrainian Interior Ministry and later cooperated with the Russians.

He also received a position from Moscow, where he was appointed deputy head of authorities in the occupied Kharkiv region. Slesarenko was subjected to an assassination attempt when his car was blown up while he was inside it on November 16. He survived the explosion, but was hospitalized in a life-threatening condition where he later died of his wounds.

The collaborative leader participated in pro-Russian demonstrations in Kharkiv early in 2014, and later joined the Luhansk People’s Republic. The Ukrainian authorities suspected him of taking an active role in atrocities against the Ukrainian population, and accused him of treason. This rumor has not been confirmed yet, however

On November 23, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky published a suggestive post on his Telegram channel stating that he had received a report from the head of the Security Service of Ukraine, Vasyl Malyuk, about “new achievements in the fight against enemy operations and their collaborators.”

Cover image source: Maxim Marusenko/Noor Photo via Getty Images