Full Breakdown
U.S. Justice Department Unseals Indictment Targeting Russian-Linked Global Assassination Network
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
On September 15 2026, federal prosecutors in New York unsealed an indictment charging five foreign nationals with conspiring to finance terrorism and, for three of them, to commit murder-for-hire. The defendants allegedly acted for Russian intelligence, recruiting and paying individuals in the United States and Europe to surveil and eliminate Russian dissidents and to attack infrastructure in countries supporting Ukraine.
Network Composition and Alleged Operations
The charged individuals are:
- Yuri Khrameev, 63, former Russian intelligence colonel.
- Kirill Khrameev, 27, his son, an FSB officer.
- Yaidel Delgado Suarez, 35, Cuban national known as “Viking.”
- Angel Eduardo Castro, 22, Venezuelan national.
All remain at large. The indictment details two murder-for-hire plots:
1. Washington, D.C. target – a Russian dissident in the capital. A Brooklyn resident was recruited to photograph two locations for $1,000-$1,500 and later offered $40,000 to “eliminate” the target; he refused.
2. Lithuania target – a dissident accused of “telling lies about Russia.” A U.S. citizen was paid $200 for surveillance and then offered roughly $25,000 to carry out the killing. After refusal, Yuri Khrameev suggested a “simpler job” such as arson of a warehouse or an electricity substation.
The indictment also cites logistics for arson attacks in Prague (June 2024) and Lithuania (September 2024) aimed at military equipment destined for Ukraine.
Official Statements & Responses
Attorney General Todd Blanche said the plots represented an attempt to murder a Russian dissident in Washington, D.C., and emphasized the DOJ’s role in preventing adversaries from unleashing violence on U.S. soil. Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Eisenberg described the defendants as part of a “global assassination network” that breached U.S. sovereignty. FBI New York Head James C. Barnacle Jr. credited “relentless work and rock-solid partnership” for disrupting the operation.
The Russian embassy in Washington did not respond to requests for comment.
Data & Statistics
- Five individuals charged.
- Ages: 22, 27, 35, 63.
- Nationalities: Russian, Cuban, Venezuelan.
- Charges: Conspiracy to finance terrorism; three also face conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire.
- Monetary offers: $40,000 (U.S. target), $25,000 (Lithuania target), $1,000-$1,500 (Brooklyn surveillance), $200 (Lithuania surveillance).
On-the-Ground Recruitment Attempts
The indictment includes messages in which operatives referred to murder as “construction” and instructed a recruit to place his phone in airplane mode while filming a target’s residence. The recruiter also mentioned contacts in Mexico who were “delayed,” suggesting a broader transnational network.
Verbatim Quotes
- “These defendants allegedly operated as part of a global assassination network that reached into the United States, attempting to recruit U.S. citizens and foreigners to carry out killings at the behest of the Kremlin,” — Assistant Attorney General
- “Actions like these represent a gross violation of our sovereignty and a threat to our national security.” — James C. Barnacle Jr.
What’s Next
The Justice Department will use the indictment to pursue further investigations into the RIS network and to seek the apprehension of the charged individuals. No specific future court dates have been announced.