Ukraine officials say plot to overthrow government foiled

Ukraine's SBU security service says the coup, if successful, would have "played into Russia’s hands"

Ukraine's SBU security service has announced that it foiled a plot to overthrow the government, which it claims was designed to play into the hands of Russia.

According to the SBU, the plot involved a plan to trigger a riot in Kiev on June 30, which would have been used as a distraction to seize control of the Ukrainian parliament and remove the military and political leadership from power.

The release of the information, first published in a New York Times report, came ahead of the visit by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, to Kiev.

Four suspects have been identified, with two currently in custody, the SBU said without naming either the individual or the group.

The SBU claims that it has seized weapons and ammunition, as well as cellphones, computers, and other records that contain evidence of criminal activity.

The alleged leader of the plot is said to be a head of a non-governmental entity who has previously been involved in provocative events.

The suspect reportedlyt rented a hall with a capacity of 2,000 people and was looking to recruit military personnel and armed guards from private companies to carry out the seizure of parliament.

The SBU says that the alleged scheme is part of a larger effort to undermine Ukraine's government and stability.

The news comes as Russia has made slow but steady gains on the battlefield in recent months, and as concerns grow over the future of US military support for Ukraine.
 
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has appealed for more long-range weapons to help defend against Russian attacks, and has expressed gratitude to partners who are helping Ukraine.

The potential for a new Trump presidency has raised concerns over the future of US military support for Ukraine, with some politicians expressing worry over Trump's comments on the war.