United States Charges 5 People in Alleged Russian-Backed Murder Plots

By Reuters Sep. 16, 2026 The U.S. Department of Justice building in Washington, D.C. REUTERS / Ken Cedeno The U.S. Department of Justice has charged five people in connection with alleged Russian plots involving surveillance, recruitment and targeted killings, according to an indictment unsealed on Tuesday. The five people allegedly worked for Russian intelligence services to "conduct attacks and murders around the world, including in the United States," the DOJ said in the indictment, adding that the individuals were still at large. The DOJ said Russian national Yuri Khrameev, 63; his son, Kirill Khrameev, 27; Cuban nationals Oemis Romagoza Durruthy, 35, and Yaidel Delgado Suarez, 35; and Venezuelan national Angel Eduardo Castro, 22; were charged with an alleged conspiracy to finance terrorism. Khrameev, Suarez, and Castro were also charged with conspiracy to commit murder for hire. Attorney General Todd Blanche told reporters the plots included "efforts to murder a Russian dissident who investigators believed was located in the Washington, D.C., area." According to the Justice Department, the network allegedly recruited multiple people in the United States to provide surveillance on Russian dissidents, including one living in the U.S. and one in Lithuania. One recruit was allegedly offered $40,000 to "eliminate" or "disappear" a person residing in the U.S., according to the Justice Department. Last year, another U.S. recruit was allegedly offered $25,000 to kill a person living in Lithuania, it said. The Russian embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Russia has previously denied conducting such plots on foreign soil, including in the United States. Read more about: United States Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more ‘Worse Than a Monkey With a Grenade’: Russian State TV Reacts to Biden’s Withdrawal, Harris’s Presidential Bid Guests mocked Biden's age following his stunning withdrawal from the race and slammed the idea of Harris as the Democratic Party's new nominee. 2 Min read Kremlin Says Watching U.S. Election After Biden’s Exit, But Focused on Ukraine War “The priority for us is the special military operation, not the election results in the United States,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. 2 Min read opinion Pyotr Kozlov How the Kremlin Is Shorting Evan Gershkovich’s Position and Cashing Out The U.S. reporter’s swift trial and conviction shows that the Kremlin is ready to capitalize on its hostage-taking strategy. 3 Min read Russia ‘Jails’ Journalist Masha Gessen 8 Years in Absentia for Bucha Comments The criminal case was linked to an interview in which they spoke out about atrocities committed by the Russian army in the Ukrainian city of Bucha. 1 Min read