Ukrainian President says he's survived 5 attempts on his life by Russia's Putin

20 November 2023 , 21:52

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President Volodymyr Zelensky (Image: AP)

Volodymyr Zelensky claims he has survived at least five attempts on his life ordered by Vladimir Putin.

The Ukrainian President says "five or six" plots have been foiled by his intelligence services since the beginning of the Russian invasion in February last year. He described the first as "very interesting" but subsequent efforts were "just like Covid" in that there was some panic but they could be dealt with.

Russian special forces parachuted into Kyiv on the day the war started on February 24, 2022. However, Zelensky's body guards sealed off his office with makeshift barricades and the assassination was thwarted. He and his closest staff were given rifles and body armour.

British and US officials offered him a way out of the capital, with fears it would topple within hours but he told them: “I need ammo, not a ride.” On the same day, in an act of defiance, Zelensky walked outside the compound and filmed a defiant selfie to prove he was still in Kyiv.

Zelensky says he's survived at least five attempts on his life (UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SER)

Nearly two years on and he says Putin still "wants very much" to take him out. His intelligence teams have even told him the name of the latest mission aiming to oust him - Operation Maidan 3. Whether that is aiming to kill him or just remove him as leader, he can't tell. Zelensky has also ruled out holding elections next year with his country's focus on defeating Moscow.

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In August, Ukrainian intelligence said it had foiled a plot to kill him with an airstrike in the southern city of Mykolaiv. The SBU said it arrested a woman accused of passing details of his visit to Russia. However, Zelensky refused to comment on whether Ukraine has carried out its own assassinations.

This is despite several pro-Russian collaborators being killed or injured, including by car bombs, believed to be the work of Kyiv-ordered special forces. The president told The Sun: “I can't discuss with you any special operations of Ukrainian intelligence or Secret Service or of some special forces. There are some moments which we are not discussing. Not only inside Russia, there are things we are not discussing on our temporarily occupied territories.”

Russia's Vladimir Putin (Getty Images)

He went on to acknowledge the lack of progress made by a major counter-offensive - 10 miles in five months - had discouraged some allies who doubt whether Ukraine can beat Russia, admitting: “We need more successful results on the battlefield.” But he said there is "no stalemate" in the morale.

Meanwhile, the US Congress has rejected plans for $60billion in aid, amid claims in the Republican party the conflict has become a "forever war". Zelensky said the war is "not a movie". He added that the lack of progress by land has been countered by his forces' successes in the Black Sea.

He said his people are tired of air raids and of being shelled and seeing their homes destroyed and loved ones killed, but in terms of giving up their country to Russia: "They will tell you we are not tired. We are ready to stand further.”

Ryan Merrifield