The U.S. Department of Justice announced the exposure of a network that American investigators link to Russian intelligence services and the RIS structure. According to Washington, members of this network recruited people in the United States and other countries to carry out attacks and killings against those who support Ukraine or are considered its supporters. Charges have been filed against five men.
Charges and Network Structure
All five defendants have been charged with conspiracy to finance terrorism, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche stated: "Our mission is to prevent America's enemies from inciting violence and terror on American soil." FBI representative James Barnakl added that the network members conspired to intimidate, threaten, or kill people in the United States and other countries. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, three of the five defendants are senior members of the RIS network.
Defendants in the Case
Among the key defendants is 63-year-old Yuri Khramaev, described in the U.S. as a colonel in Russian intelligence services, and his 27-year-old son Kirill Khramaev, who is said to have served as an officer of the Russian FSB. The third "senior" participant is 35-year-old Cuban Oemis Romagosa Durruti, described as an influential member of the Cuban diaspora living in Russia who coordinated attacks for the RIS network. The other two defendants are 35-year-old Yaidel Delgado Suarez and 22-year-old Angel Eduardo Castro, who are charged with recruiting or attempting to recruit people in the United States.
Recruitment and Assassination Episodes
U.S. investigators describe several episodes. According to the Department of Justice, this summer Suarez recruited a person in the U.S. to surveil a Russian dissident living in the United States: the hitman was allegedly sent to two locations linked to the potential victim and given instructions on how to observe. Later, Suarez and Castro reportedly offered as much as $40,000 for the recruit to "eliminate" the dissident. After a failed attempt, Suarez, according to investigators, began searching for other people in the U.S., offering money for attacks on specific targets.
A separate episode, according to the U.S. side, dates to 2025: Kirill Khramaev allegedly recruited a U.S. citizen to surveil and kill a person in Lithuania who, according to the case materials, was spreading information about Russia that Moscow considers false. The U.S. Department of Justice quotes Khramaev as expressing the intention to target "all countries that help Ukraine." His father, according to investigators, offered the recruit $25,000 to kill this person in Lithuania. Khramaev Sr., Suarez, and Castro have additionally been charged with conspiracy to commit a contract killing, which carries a maximum sentence of up to 10 years.
Reaction and Context in Europe
Western experts warn that Russia may intensify sabotage and assassination attempts in NATO countries. In Germany, attacks have already been recorded on energy facilities, airports, defense enterprises, and government IT systems. The United Kingdom has separately stated the risk of new assassination attempts using chemical substances. In August 2026, a German court sentenced a Ukrainian to one year and three months in prison for preparing sabotage on behalf of the Russian Federation.
Legal Status and Caveats
As of the time of publication, all five defendants remain at large, and it is unknown exactly where they are located — in the United States or outside the country. The circumstances outlined above are presented according to the version of the U.S. investigation and have not yet been confirmed by a court verdict; the defendants retain the presumption of innocence until a court renders a decision.
