Ukraine thwarts Plot to Overthrow Government in a Failed Coup

Ukrainian authorities revealed on Monday that they had successfully thwarted a plot to overthrow the government in Kyiv, as Russia escalates its assaults on the capital city.

While the plan’s viability was not immediately clear, officials said it was a reminder that the Kremlin remained determined to bring down President Volodymyr Zelensky.

According to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), four Ukrainian civilians were apprehended over the weekend for allegedly scheming to stage a coup by taking control of Parliament and declaring their intention to replace both military and civilian leadership. The investigation, which commenced in May, led to the arrests.

Although Ukrainian officials have not disclosed many specifics about the conspiracy, they mentioned that the individuals involved were posing as “activists” while planning to organize a peaceful demonstration in Kyiv on Sunday.

A recent photo released by Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s office shows the group of four individuals who were detained in connection with the alleged plot to overthrow the government.

Even though there were conflicting messages on social media, most event attendees were unaware of the group’s plan to “impose” a temporary government on the public, according to Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s office on Telegram. Whether the group had ties to Russian officials is uncertain, but the SBU mentioned that the plan “would have benefited Russia.” Earlier this year, U.S. and European intelligence officials alleged that Moscow was intensifying its secret operations against Kyiv and its global allies to weaken support for Ukraine.

Debris Of Russian Missile Fell In A Residential Area Of Kyiv
Rescuers stand in front of a building damaged by a Russian missile on June 30, 2024, in Kyiv, Ukraine. (Serhii Korovayny/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)

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Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy made a surprise visit to the troops stationed on the front lines, showing his support and solidarity in the face of Russia’s ongoing onslaught.

The situation remains tense as Russia continues to make gains in Ukraine, with security officials warning of new tactics being employed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in his strikes on Kyiv.

Despite the recent strike on the city lacking ballistic and cruise missiles, the Kyiv City Military Administration emphasized the importance of taking air raid sirens seriously, as the threat to human life remains ever-present.

Most of those who gathered would be unaware of the plan, he mentioned. Once the crowd reached several thousand, Mr. Dekhtyarenko explained, the organizers intended to spread information about the unrest in Kyiv through various media outlets.

“They aimed to destabilize the sociopolitical situation in our country, which would benefit Russia,” he stated.

The accused also aimed to declare the removal of the current military and political leadership of Ukraine, he continued, mentioning their plans to take over the Parliament building and disrupt its operations.

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While storming and securing heavily guarded government buildings would have been difficult, it raised doubts about the feasibility of the plan and its progress. Nevertheless, officials emphasized that the main goal of the plot was to sow chaos and erode trust in the government.

Ukraine’s chief prosecutor announced that four men had been charged with treason, with two detained pending trial as a precaution.

Following state policy, the names of the accused were not disclosed. The prosecutor’s office identified the organizer as “the head of a public union with a history of involvement in failed provocative events.”

“He rented a hall in Kyiv for 2,000 people and sought military and armed guards from private organizations to carry out the Parliament takeover,” the prosecutor’s office revealed.

Due to the unknown identities of the suspects, legal representatives could not be contacted for comments.

Nonetheless, the plot resembled previous attempts reported by Ukrainian security services even before Russia’s invasion in February 2022.