Russia's FSB prevents assassination attempt on ROC hierarch - media

The Federal Security Service of Russia reported that an assassination attempt on the hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Tikhon (Shevkunov) of Simferopol and Crimea, was prevented. The FSB reported that the assassination attempt was prepared under the direction of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, and the possible perpetrators have already been detained. They were citizens of Ukraine and Russia. This was reported by Interfax.

“The defendants confessed that in mid-2024 they were recruited by an employee of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine to prepare the physical elimination of Metropolitan Tikhon,” — the report says.

In December 2024, an improvised explosive device was handed over to the detainees through a hiding place, the FSB said.

“The criminal action was planned to be carried out during Metropolitan Tikhon’s stay in Moscow. After committing the crime, they planned to leave Russia using forged passports provided by the Ukrainian special services,” — they added.

During the investigation, an improvised explosive device and two forged passports of Ukrainian citizens with photos of the detainees and changed personal data were seized, the FSB said.

“A criminal case was opened against these persons under articles on preparation for a terrorist act and illegal trafficking in explosive devices, within the framework of which they were arrested,” — the statement said.

Earlier, Metropolitan Tikhon (Shevkunov) of the Russian Orthodox Church said on the Church and Peace program that Russia and Ukraine need to reach an agreement and make peace. “It is necessary to resolve these battles between brothers — Russians and Ukrainians, although now Ukrainians do not call us brothers, but they used to… We need peace by the will of God. Only God can manage all of this,” — Metropolitan Tikhon reasoned.