On July 31, 2026, an assassination attempt on Colonel Igor Obolensky, commander of the 13th Operational Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine "Kharta," was thwarted in Kharkiv. The incident occurred in the city center when a man with a weapon approached the officer. Thanks to the swift actions of law enforcement and a technical malfunction of the attacker's weapon, the assassination attempt failed.
Incident Details and Suspect Arrest
According to sources within law enforcement agencies, the incident took place near one of the barbershops in Kharkiv. A 69-year-old local resident approached Igor Obolensky from behind and attempted to shoot him at close range. However, the weapon failed to fire — it misfired. The attacker did not have time to fix the malfunction as he was instantly neutralized by operatives of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and National Police officers who were conducting covert surveillance of the situation.
During the initial investigative actions, it was revealed that the detainee acted under the influence of Russian handlers. According to the man, representatives of Russian military intelligence contacted him via closed messengers, posing as SBU employees. They used psychological pressure and fabricated data to convince the elderly Kharkiv resident that Colonel Obolensky was allegedly a "traitor" and that his liquidation was a "patriotic duty." The man is currently awaiting the official presentation of charges.
Commander's Reaction
Igor Obolensky publicly commented on the incident on his Facebook page. The officer thanked citizens for their concern and support, and also assessed the enemy's motives.
"Terror is one of the means of waging war used by Russians and a sign that they are not achieving their political goals through military methods. Today's assassination attempt is proof that we are all doing the right thing and effectively destroying the enemy on the battlefield," the commander stated.
Obolensky emphasized that such actions indicate the enemy's fear of the effectiveness of his unit. "An assassination attempt is a sign of the enemy's fear. And our revenge will make him fear even more," he added.
Official Position of the Authorities
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the information about the foiled assassination attempt in his evening address and thanked the law enforcement officers of Kharkiv for their swift work. The SBU and National Police officially reported the arrest of the "potential killer" and the conduct of relevant procedural actions.
Military analysts note that the activation of sabotage and reconnaissance groups and hired killers in the Kharkiv region may be linked to the strengthening of defensive lines in this direction, where the "Kharta" brigade plays a key role. According to experts, the liquidation of the commander could have been a goal to disrupt the command of troops in one of the most tense sections of the front.
