Mapped: The lethal shadow war of assassinations between Russia and Ukraine

When a British national was detained in Ukraine over suspicions of aiding Russia in political assassinations, it unveiled more than a single act of betrayal. Ross David Cutmore, who arrived in Ukraine in 2024, is accused of supplying and distributing weapons used in the murders of three notable Ukrainians: activist Demian Hanul, and politicians Iryna Farion and Andriy Parubiy.

This case highlights a lesser-known aspect of the conflict: a rising campaign of targeted killings stretching from Kyiv and Moscow to Madrids outskirts. It also reflects Russias broader strategy in Ukraine. Lackingor unwilling to deployprofessional operatives, Moscow has increasingly relied on local collaborators, migrants, and criminal networks to track political and military targets inside Ukraine and abroad.

According to Acled, a global conflict monitor, nine Russian assassination attempts in Ukraine were recorded between 2023 and August 2025. Targets ranged from nationalist leaders to intelligence personnel, often chosen to support the Kremlins narrative of combating extremism.

Yet evidence suggests Ukraine is gaining the upper hand in this shadow war. By late 2024, the frequency and scope of Ukrainian operations had overtaken Russian efforts. In the first eight months of 2025, Ukrainian assassination attempts inside Russia had already surpassed the annual totals for 2022 through 2024, with Kyiv shifting focus from propagandists to key military and political architects of Putins campaigns.

Notable incidents include the December 2024 killing of Lt Gen Igor Kirillov, head of Russias nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons forces, via a remotely detonated device hidden in an electric scooter. Earlier that month, engineer Mikhail Shatsky, involved in missile and drone production, was shot dead. In April 2025, car bombs killed two senior figures in electronic warfare and operational planning, including Gen Yaroslav Moskalik, a prominent member of Russias general staff.

These operations have become increasingly sophisticated, often involving explosives or mail bombs facilitated by unwitting couriers recruited online. Acled also noted incidents resembling suicide bombings inside Russia, such as the deaths of Armen Sarkisian, founder of the Arbat battalion, and Zaur Gurtsiev, responsible for the bombardment of Mariupol.

Even in regions under Russian control for over a decade, Ukraines reach has persisted. The 2018 assassination of Donetsk warlord Alexander Zakharchenko demonstrated Kyivs operational capabilities in occupied territories. Since 2022, high-profile killings in Luhansk, including Russian-installed interior minister Igor Kornet, and the December 2024 killing of the Olenivka prison head, underscore Ukraines sustained covert operations.

While targeting individuals is unlikely to stop Russias military efforts, it imposes psychological pressure on those involved, with threats extending far beyond the frontlines. Russian attempts to retaliate have been documented: Acled reports nine assassination attempts between 2023 and August 2025, many executed poorly and dependent on local intermediaries. Examples include the July 2025 killing of Col Ivan Voronych in Kyiv, reportedly by a far-right group with Russian ties, and the wounding of Serhii Sternenko in May by a Russian-handler recruited agent.

Experts note that this escalating assassination duel occurs alongside the breakdown of traditional warfare norms, including indiscriminate attacks on civilians and the mistreatment of prisoners of war. Nichita Gurcov, Europe and Central Asia Senior Analyst at Acled, describes the methods as increasingly resembling those of Israels Mossad, involving disguised explosives and cross-border operations.

High-profile assassinations beyond Ukraine illustrate the conflicts global reach. In May, former Ukrainian politician Andriy Portnov was killed in Madrid, following the previous years killing of Russian defector Maxim Kuzminov in Alicante. Historical examples, such as Russias 2018 Salisbury poisoning ordered by Putin, show Moscows willingness to project lethal force internationally.

Even after any potential peace agreement, the cycle of killings may persist. Assassinations on both sides have continued since Russias initial 2014 invasion, fueled by widespread access to weapons and unresolved grievances, suggesting these covert campaigns could outlast formal hostilities.

Author: Logan Reeves