The Federal Security Service of Russia claims to have discovered evidence of an assassination attempt orchestrated by Ukraine against Metropolitan Tikhon, a close associate of Putin.

The FSB announced that it has obtained new evidence regarding an assassination attempt against Metropolitan Tikhon, considered the spiritual advisor of President Vladimir Putin, accusing the Ukrainian secret services of orchestrating this attack. According to the FSB, the purpose of the attack was to undermine Russian-American negotiations related to the conflict in Ukraine. Following the searches, new individuals involved in planning the assassination were identified, and two clerics from the Sretensky Monastery in Moscow were arrested, being accused of attempting to carry out a bombing.

They stated that they were recruited by the Ukrainian secret services under threats. The FSB claims that the attack was supposed to take place during an official visit and that the two had sent money to the Ukrainian armed forces since 2022. Metropolitan Tikhon is an influential figure in Russia, having close ties to the political leadership.