The FBI is at the centre of a U.S. national-security case involving five people prosecutors say worked for Russian intelligence services to finance terrorism and organize murder-for-hire operations.
The charges were unsealed on September 15, 2026, by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Southern District of New York. Prosecutors say the alleged network operated across several countries and attempted to recruit people to carry out violence in the United States and overseas.
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What the FBI case alleges
According to the indictment, the network allegedly paid or attempted to pay individuals for surveillance and targeted killings. One of the alleged U.S. operations involved a prominent Russian dissident who was described in court documents as a target of a planned attack.
Prosecutors also allege that members of the network sought to commission attacks against civilian and military infrastructure in European countries viewed as aligned with Ukraine.
The FBI’s New York counterintelligence division investigated the case, with assistance from the bureau’s Washington field office, Homeland Security Investigations and the Justice Department’s National Security Division.
Five people named in the indictment
The defendants identified by prosecutors are Yuri Khrameev, also known as “Colonel Yuri,” Kirill Khrameev, Oemis Romagoza Durruthy, Yaidel Delgado Suarez, also known as “Viking,” and Angel Eduardo Castro.
Prosecutors identify Yuri Khrameev and Kirill Khrameev as Russian nationals. Durruthy is identified as a Cuban national, while Suarez is identified as Cuban and Castro as Venezuelan.
All five are charged with conspiracy to finance terrorism, an offence carrying a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Yuri Khrameev, Suarez and Castro also face a conspiracy charge related to murder for hire, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years.
The defendants remain at large, according to the Justice Department. The indictment contains allegations only, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Alleged operations in Europe
The indictment describes alleged activity outside the United States as part of what prosecutors call a broader Russian intelligence-services network.
Prosecutors allege that Durruthy coordinated travel and logistics connected to a planned attack in Prague in June 2024. They also allege that he helped arrange travel connected to another attack in Lithuania in September 2024.
The filing further alleges that Durruthy communicated with Yuri Khrameev in November 2025 after obtaining images of a residence associated with the U.S. target. Prosecutors say the residence was later surveilled by a U.S.-based participant in 2026.
Those allegations have not been tested at trial. The filing does not amount to a finding that any defendant committed the offences charged.
Why the case matters
The case illustrates how U.S. authorities are treating alleged foreign-directed violence against dissidents as both a counterintelligence and criminal matter.
The FBI describes transnational repression as activity by governments or their proxies to intimidate, threaten or harm people beyond their borders. Such conduct can include surveillance, harassment, online threats, coercion and physical violence.
For Canadian readers, the case is relevant because foreign interference and intimidation concerns have also become a focus of public debate across North America. However, the charges announced in this case relate to alleged conduct in the United States and other countries, not to a Canadian prosecution.
What happens next
The next steps are expected to include efforts to locate the defendants, possible extradition proceedings if any are arrested abroad, and preliminary court proceedings in the Southern District of New York.
Because the defendants are not reported to be in U.S. custody, the case may proceed slowly unless authorities secure arrests or obtain cooperation from foreign governments.
Prosecutors will eventually have to prove the alleged relationships, payments, planning and intent beyond a reasonable doubt. Defence lawyers will have opportunities to challenge the evidence, the legal theory and the government’s handling of the investigation.
The Justice Department said the charges were brought after an investigation led by the FBI’s counterintelligence personnel in New York. The department has not established in court that the alleged network successfully carried out every operation described in the indictment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the FBI alleging in the new case?
U.S. prosecutors allege that five people connected to a Russian intelligence-services network conspired to finance terrorism and arrange targeted killings, including an alleged plot against a dissident in the United States.
Who has been charged?
The defendants are Yuri Khrameev, Kirill Khrameev, Oemis Romagoza Durruthy, Yaidel Delgado Suarez and Angel Eduardo Castro.
What charges do the defendants face?
All five face a conspiracy charge related to financing terrorism. Three also face a conspiracy charge related to murder for hire.
Have the defendants been convicted?
No. The charges are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
What happens next in the case?
Authorities will seek to locate the defendants, while prosecutors may pursue arrests, extradition proceedings and later court hearings in the Southern District of New York.
Fact-Checked: Key names, charges, allegations, investigative agencies and procedural details were checked against U.S. Department of Justice and FBI information published in September 2026.
Disclaimer: This article describes allegations contained in an indictment and does not establish that any defendant committed a crime.