President Putin Is In First Place In Ukraine's Murder Target, Kremlin: Our Security Service Knows Their Duties

President Vladimir Putin with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Military Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov. (Wikimedia Commons/Kremlin.

JAKARTA - The Kremlin said on Thursday Russia's security agencies knew what they had to do, after a top Ukrainian intelligence official said President Vladimir Putin was first on the assassination list.

Deputy Head of Ukraine's Military Intelligence Service Vadym Skibitsky told German newspaper Die Welt that Kyiv wanted to kill President Putin "because he coordinates and decides what happens" in the war.

He said the Russian leader was aware that he was ranked first on the list of murders in Ukraine.

"But in the end, everyone has to be held accountable for their actions," Skibitsky was quoted as saying, citing Reuters, May 26.

"Putin realizes that we are getting closer to him, but he is also afraid of being killed by his own people," he continued.

Not only President Putin, Skibitsky then mentioned the names of other Russian officials, including mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin, Russian Minister of Defense Sergei Shoigu, Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov, to the military commander nicknamed General Armageddon, and Sergei Surovikin were included as targets.

Skibitsky said President Putin was a difficult target because he often "hides", but now started appearing in public more frequently.

"However, when he appeared in public, the Ukrainian spy agency 'were not sure if it was really him,' Skibitsky said, referring to Putin's alleged use of a 'double' even at high-profile events.

Separately, asked whether President Putin's protective measures were stepped up after Skibitsky's interview, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told state TV on Thursday:

"Trust me, our security services know their job and know what they are doing."

Peskov said Skibitsky's interview was confirmation that Russia had been right in waging what he called a "special military operation" in Ukraine 15 months ago, a conflict that Ukraine and the West said was an unwarranted war of conquest.

"The terrorist regime speaks of its terrorist aspirations. This special military operation is more than justified, more than necessary, and must be completed to achieve its goals," Peskov explained.

Previously, the Kremlin also described a drone strike on the Kremlin earlier this month as a Ukrainian attempt to assassinate Putin. Kyiv denied this at the time.

The New York Times said on Thursday US intelligence agencies believed the drone strike was likely orchestrated by Ukrainian spies or military intelligence.