U.S. Charges 5 in Alleged Russian Assassination Plot Targeting Dissidents

NEW YORK — Federal prosecutors have charged five people accused of working with Russian intelligence services to arrange targeted killings in the United States and abroad and attacks on infrastructure in European countries supporting Ukraine, officials announced 

The indictment, unsealed Tuesday in federal court in Manhattan, alleges the network recruited people in the United States to conduct surveillance and kill Russian dissidents. All five defendants remain at large.

The defendants are:

• Yuri Khrameev, also known as “Colonel Yuri,” 63, of Russia, a former Russian intelligence colonel.
• Kirill Khrameev, 27, of Russia, an officer in Russia’s Federal Security Service, or FSB, and Yuri Khrameev’s son.
• Oemis Romagoza Durruthy, 35, a Cuban national living in Russia who allegedly coordinated attacks and travel.
• Yaidel Delgado Suarez, also known as “Viking,” 35, of Cuba, an alleged recruiter for the network.
• Angel Eduardo Castro, 22, of Venezuela, who allegedly helped recruit U.S.-based participants.

The defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Prosecutors described the organization as a Russian Intelligence Services Network that has operated since at least 2024. The network allegedly targeted Russian dissidents and defectors and commissioned attacks against civilian and military infrastructure in countries viewed as supporting Ukraine.

$40,000 allegedly offered for U.S. killing

During the summer, the network allegedly recruited a U.S. resident to surveil and kill a prominent Russian dissident believed to be living in the United States.

Suarez allegedly supplied two locations connected to the intended victim and instructions for conducting surveillance. The recruit was promised between $1,000 and $1,500 and later provided Suarez with photographs and videos, according to the indictment.

Suarez and Castro then allegedly offered the recruit $40,000 to “eliminate” or “disappear” the dissident.

When the recruit said he did not want to commit the killing, the defendants allegedly asked whether he knew someone else who could do it. Suarez also claimed he had people in Mexico who could carry out the attack but had been delayed, prosecutors said.

The network allegedly attempted to recruit other people in the United States to surveil or kill the same dissident and additional potential targets.

Alleged murder plot in Lithuania

The indictment also describes a 2025 plot targeting a person in Lithuania whom the network accused of “telling lies about Russia.”

Kirill Khrameev allegedly recruited a U.S. citizen to travel to an address connected to the intended victim and take photographs in exchange for $200.

After the surveillance was completed, Kirill Khrameev introduced the recruit to Yuri Khrameev, whom he described as his boss and a colonel. Yuri Khrameev allegedly offered the recruit approximately $25,000 to kill the target.

Prosecutors said Khrameev suggested attacking the victim with a gasoline-filled bottle or a knife. When the recruit declined, Khrameev allegedly proposed what he called a simpler assignment: setting fire to a warehouse or attacking an electrical substation.

Khrameev allegedly said the objective was to target countries helping Ukraine and that the network offered “serious money for serious work.”

Attacks allegedly planned in Europe

Durruthy allegedly coordinated travel and logistics for operations in Europe.

 In June 2024, he allegedly sent another participant information about potential attack sites in Prague, Czechia, and helped arrange the participant’s travel. In September 2024, he allegedly booked travel for a person involved in another operation in Lithuania.

Prosecutors said Durruthy later obtained images of a residence connected to the dissident targeted in the United States.

All five defendants are charged with conspiracy to finance terrorism, an offense carrying a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.

Yuri Khrameev, Suarez and Castro also are charged with conspiracy to commit murder for hire, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years.

The maximum sentences are set by Congress and would be determined by a judge if any of the defendants are arrested and convicted.

The Kremlin said it would not comment on the allegations without what it considered credible evidence. Russia previously has denied carrying out assassination operations abroad.

An indictment contains allegations. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

🔴 Quick Fact Checklist

🔴 Defendants charged: Five
🔴 Current status: All remain at large
🔴 U.S. target: A prominent Russian dissident believed to be in the Washington, D.C., area
🔴 Alleged murder offer: $40,000
🔴 Alleged surveillance payment: Between $1,000 and $1,500
🔴 Lithuania murder offer: Approximately $25,000
🔴 European operations cited: Czechia and Lithuania
🔴 Count One: Conspiracy to finance terrorism
🔴 Maximum penalty for Count One: 20 years
🔴 Count Two: Conspiracy to commit murder for hire
🔴 Maximum penalty for Count Two: 10 years
🔴 Court: U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
🔴 Important: The charges are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent