DOJ Alleges Russia Financed Assassination Network Targeting U.S. Dissidents
The DOJ unsealed charges against five Russians for financing murder-for-hire plots against dissidents on U.S. soil.
Why it matters: These allegations reveal escalating geopolitical tensions and underscore the critical role of U.S. legal enforcement in combating foreign covert operations threatening national security.
- On Sept. 15, 2026, DOJ indicted five individuals linked to Russian intelligence for assassination plots on U.S. soil.
- The network sought to recruit U.S. citizens, offering up to $40,000 for killings and smaller sums for surveillance.
- Efforts included recruiting a Brooklyn resident in mid-2026 and a U.S. citizen in Lithuania in 2025.
- Charges include terrorism finance conspiracy and murder-for-hire, highlighting threats to U.S. sovereignty.
On September 15, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice unveiled an indictment against five individuals linked to Russian intelligence accused of orchestrating a global assassination network targeting Kremlin critics, including plots within the United States.
The accused include Yuri Khrameev, a former Russian intelligence colonel, his son Kirill, and three nationals from Cuba and Venezuela, all reportedly residing in Russia and currently at large. The network allegedly recruited a Brooklyn resident in July and August 2026 to surveil a Russian dissident in Washington, D.C., offering $1,000 to $1,500 for surveillance and $40,000 for assassination. That individual declined the murder offer, prompting the operatives to seek other candidates.
Additionally, in 2025, the network attempted to recruit a U.S. citizen in Lithuania to kill someone spreading negative information about Russia, offering $25,000. When the citizen refused, operatives proposed alternative attacks such as arson targeting pro-Ukrainian infrastructure.
Attorney General Todd Blanche stated, “It is our job to stop America’s adversaries from unleashing violence and terror on American soil.” Assistant Attorney General John Eisenberg added, “These defendants allegedly operated as part of a global assassination network that reached into the United States.”
The indictment includes charges of conspiracy to finance terrorism and murder-for-hire. The Justice Department stressed these actions represent serious threats to U.S. sovereignty and national security from Kremlin-backed covert operations.
By the numbers:
- $40,000 — offered for assassination in the U.S.
- $25,000 — offered for assassination in Lithuania
- Five individuals — charged, all believed to reside in Russia