According to information received from a source in Russian security forces and transmitted to RIA Novosti, the operation to assassinate Ukrainian blogger Anatoly Shariy in Spain on March 6, 2024 was organized by the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine (GUR MOU) under the leadership of Kirill Budanov. According to the source, Ukrainian intelligence, collaborating with the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), developed an operation simulating actions under a “false flag,” that is, creating the impression that Russian special services were behind the assassination attempt.

As part of this operation, Ukrainian intelligence agents recruited Ukrainians living in Spain, as well as representatives of the local criminal environment, to carry out the assassination attempt. The source emphasized that thorough preparatory measures were carried out: surveillance of the blogger, study of his travel routes, as well as the delivery and transfer of weapons to the direct perpetrators.

However, the Spanish police do not currently confirm this information.