Four suspects have been identified, including the group's leader, "the co-founder of a public organization known for its anti-Ukrainian actions since 2015." Half of them were quickly detained on suspicion of "actions and calls for action aimed at violent change or overthrow of the constitutional order or at the seizure of state power" and are now in custody. Police also recovered a number of weapons, ammunition, cellphones, computers, and documents "with evidence of criminal intent."
In a post on Telegram, the SBU explained that the "group of public 'activists'" were "preparing a series of provocations in Kyiv on June 30," and that, "under the guise of holding a so-called 'party,' the attackers planned to announce the 'removal from power' of the current military and political leadership of Ukraine" by seizing te Verkhovna Rada building and preventing those within from working.
"The perpetrators," the SBU continued, "planned to spread information about the 'disturbances' in Kyiv through domestic and foreign information resources" in order to "shake up the social and political situation within our country."
As CNN reports, the alleged perpetrators had rented a hall big enough for 2,000 people in hopes of recruiting members of the military and private armed guards to seize parliament. They were said to have been working with "several accomplices" hailing from the Kyiv and Dnipro regions, among others.
It has not yet been determined whether the suspects had any direct ties to Russia, though the alleged attempt comes at a time when Putin is ramping up his covert efforts in Ukraine. If found guilty, those involved could face up to 10 years in prison.
