Information has come to light from recently unsealed documents that a Russian plot was underway that involved paying recruits to follow, photograph, and record video of a dissident who was living in the US, and then to murder them.

Having worked in the executive protection field for almost twenty years and another thirty years in counter-surveillance, I have always understood that serious threats are usually preceded by surveillance efforts, often technical in nature. Protection of principals and all assets must be a team effort, involving all departments, security and others. Executive protection, physical security, Cyber and IT security, along with TSCM must be on the same team.

September 15, 2026

The Department of Justice announced today the unsealing of charges against five individuals working for the intelligence services of the Russian Federation to conduct attacks and murders around the world, including in the United States. As detailed in the unsealed indictment, the network is alleged to have, among other things, paid and attempted to pay individuals within the United States and elsewhere to conduct pre-operational surveillance and carry out targeted killings…
“The charges announced reveal an alleged plot by the Russian intelligence services to murder a dissident on U.S. soil for daring to speak out against the Russian government,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. 

They explain that since 2024, a network of individuals working for the intelligence services of the Russian Federation (the “RIS Network”) has conspired to conduct attacks and murders around the world, including within the United States. The RIS Network is one arm of the Russian Federation’s apparatus to carry out external attacks, including murder, and has focused on Russian dissidents and defectors and, most recently, on nations perceived as allies of Ukraine.

This summer, the RIS Network recruited an individual based in the United States to surveil and murder a prominent Russian dissident they believed to be residing in the United States. They offered between $1000 and $1500 to conduct the surveillance and bring back photos and videos, but another $40,000 if they would also eliminate or “disappear” the victim. He refused to commit the murder himself but said that he had “people in Mexico” who could otherwise carry out the murder.

The conspirators in the indictment include Russian and Venezuelan citizens, all working for the Russian Intelligence Services. “Yuri Khrameev, Kirill Khrameev, Oemis Romagoza Durruthy, (Russian) and Yaidel Delgado Suarez, and Angel Eduardo Castro (Venezuelan) are all charged with participating in a conspiracy to finance terrorism (Count One), which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Yuri Khrameev, Suarez, and Castro are also charged with participating in a conspiracy to commit murder for hire (Count Two), which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.”

The information comes from a few sources, including the Office of Public Affairs, Reuters, and the Circuit Magazine (a good source for executive protection related news and information).
Office of Public Affairs: justice.gov/opa
Reuters: reuters.com
Circuit Magazine: circuit-magazine.com/p/russian-intelligence-murder-for-hire-charges

TSCM doesn’t live in a bubble. The technical countermeasures team must work hand in hand with the other security departments if true protection of principals and assets is desired.