The United States has announced criminal charges against five individuals accused of involvement in operations linked to Russia. In one case, a person was reportedly offered $40,000 to carry out an operation that would make a US-based target disappear. The Justice Department identified the defendants as Russian nationals Yuri Khrameev, 63, and Kirill Khrameev, 27, Cuban nationals Oemis Romagoza Durruthy and Yaidel Delgado Suarez, both 35, and Venezuelan national Angel Eduardo Castro, 22. All five are charged with conspiracy to finance terrorism. Yuri Khrameev, Suarez and Castro also face a charge of conspiracy to commit murder for hire.
The Russian embassy in Washington has not responded publicly to the charges brought by American authorities, according to Al Jazeera. Moscow has consistently denied accusations that it is responsible for assassination attempts on foreign soil, including within the United States. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow did not consider it necessary to comment until it saw credible evidence and arguments based on tangible facts.
The case comes amid broader concerns about foreign interference in American affairs and national security threats. The Justice Department said the defendants allegedly worked for Russian intelligence services and were involved in surveillance, recruitment, planned killings and attacks on infrastructure in Europe.
The individuals named in the indictment are accused by prosecutors of taking part in a network that operated in the United States and Europe. The indictment gives detailed allegations about separate plots involving a Russian dissident believed to be in the Washington, D.C., area and another person in Lithuania.
The US Department of Justice has emphasized that it will continue to pursue those involved in such operations. This development adds to ongoing scrutiny over Russia’s involvement in international affairs and its potential impact on domestic security. Attorney General Todd Blanche said the government had a responsibility to stop foreign adversaries from carrying out violence on American soil.
FBI and Justice Department officials said the five defendants were part of a larger network tied to Russian intelligence. Prosecutors allege that the network recruited people in the United States to conduct surveillance and arrange killings.
All five defendants remain at large, according to the Justice Department. The department said an indictment contains allegations and that every defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
The US government has not provided detailed information about how it gathered evidence for this case. The Justice Department did say that the FBI's New York Counterintelligence Division investigated the case with help from the FBI's Washington Field Office and Homeland Security Investigations.
The situation underscores the continued tensions between Russia and the United States over issues of national security and foreign policy. As investigations continue, more details may emerge about the scope and reach of any potential Russian influence efforts.
The most recent alleged plot involved a prominent Russian dissident whom the network believed was living in the United States. Prosecutors said Suarez sent a US-based recruit to two locations linked to the target and offered between $1,000 and $1,500 for surveillance. The recruit supplied photographs and videos. Suarez and Castro then allegedly offered the recruit $40,000 to “eliminate” or “disappear” the target. When the recruit refused to carry out the killing, prosecutors say the defendants asked whether the person knew someone else who would do it.
The indictment also describes an alleged 2025 plot involving a target in Lithuania. Prosecutors say Kirill Khrameev first offered a US citizen $200 to photograph an address linked to that person. Yuri Khrameev later allegedly offered about $25,000 to kill the target. When the recruit refused, prosecutors say Khrameev offered other jobs involving arson at a warehouse or an electrical substation.
The case has also raised questions about how the US government identifies and prosecutes individuals involved in foreign interference. No defense response was included in the Justice Department announcement. The charges show that prosecutors are using terrorism-financing and murder-for-hire statutes against the alleged network.
The Department of Justice said the FBI and federal prosecutors are handling the case. This latest development reflects an ongoing effort by American authorities to counter perceived threats from foreign actors.
The indictment also alleges that Durruthy coordinated travel and logistics connected to an attack in Prague in June 2024 and another attack in Lithuania in September 2024. Prosecutors say those operations were part of efforts to target countries aligned with or perceived to be aligned with Ukraine.
The five individuals remain at large, and prosecutors have disclosed detailed allegations about their alleged roles in the network. All five face a maximum of 20 years in prison on the terrorism-financing conspiracy charge if convicted. The murder-for-hire conspiracy charge against Yuri Khrameev, Suarez and Castro carries a maximum of 10 years.
The indictment was filed in the Southern District of New York. The US government has not confirmed if additional charges will be filed in the coming days or weeks. Meanwhile, the Russian embassy continues to avoid public comment on the matter. The case highlights the complex dynamics of international relations and national security in the modern era.
It also raises concerns about how foreign governments may attempt to influence domestic affairs through covert operations. The indictment focuses on alleged violence, surveillance and sabotage rather than political advocacy or ordinary influence activity.
The Justice Department said the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.