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FSB Detains Moldovan Suspect in Major General Shooting

9/9/2026

Summary

Story summary

The Federal Security Service (FSB) detained 21-year-old Moldovan Nicolae Cociu for allegedly shooting Major General Nikolai Varpakhovich.
Varpakhovich suffered six gunshot wounds near Engels, Saratov region on Sept 3.
FSB says Ukrainian intelligence recruited Cociu via Instagram in 2025 and offered €70,000 for the attack.
Cociu trained at a Kyiv shooting range and traveled through Estonia to Saratov in June.
Agents arrested Cociu in Astrakhan Oblast as he attempted to leave Russia.

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Story summary

The Federal Security Service (FSB) detained 21-year-old Moldovan Nicolae Cociu for allegedly shooting Major General Nikolai Varpakhovich.
Varpakhovich suffered six gunshot wounds near Engels, Saratov region on Sept 3.
FSB says Ukrainian intelligence recruited Cociu via Instagram in 2025 and offered €70,000 for the attack.
Cociu trained at a Kyiv shooting range and traveled through Estonia to Saratov in June.
Agents arrested Cociu in Astrakhan Oblast as he attempted to leave Russia.