Story perspectives

DOJ Charges Five Russians in Global Assassination Network

By Drooid · Sep 16, 2026, 4:38 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

DOJ Charges Russian Operatives

The U.S. Department of Justice charged five Russian intelligence operatives with operating a global assassination network.
The charged individuals are Colonel Yuri Khrameev, Kirill Khrameev, Oemis Romagoza Durruthy, Yaidel Delgado Suarez, and Angel Eduardo Castro.
A recruit refused a $1,000-$1,500 surveillance offer and a $40,000 contract to kill a Washington dissident.
In 2025, Kirill Khrameev offered $200 for photos and $25,000 to kill a Lithuanian, which was declined.
The indictment cites 2024 arson attacks on Czech buses and a Ukraine-aid facility; suspects remain at large.

Summary

Drone Strike Hits Locomotive

A drone strike hit a locomotive near the Poland-Ukraine border, prompting evacuation with no casualties.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and CIA director David Petraeus rode trains that passed strike site.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk called a meeting after the strike.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called the strike barbaric and urged sanctions on Moscow.
Ukrainian air defenses downed 85 of 108 drones while Russia said it hit railway infrastructure.

History

Historical Context

On 7 September 1978 the Soviet KGB aided the Bulgarian secret service in killing dissident writer Georgi Markov in London with a ricin-filled umbrella that fired a 0.7-mm pellet, causing death four days later. The case spurred intelligence probes and became a model for targeting exiles. The 2024 DOJ indictment of Russian operatives, including Colonel Yuri Khrameev, revives that threat, prompting sanctions and railway upgrades.

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DOJ Charges Russian Operatives

The U.S. Department of Justice charged five Russian intelligence operatives with operating a global assassination network.
The charged individuals are Colonel Yuri Khrameev, Kirill Khrameev, Oemis Romagoza Durruthy, Yaidel Delgado Suarez, and Angel Eduardo Castro.
A recruit refused a $1,000-$1,500 surveillance offer and a $40,000 contract to kill a Washington dissident.
In 2025, Kirill Khrameev offered $200 for photos and $25,000 to kill a Lithuanian, which was declined.
The indictment cites 2024 arson attacks on Czech buses and a Ukraine-aid facility; suspects remain at large.

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