Justice Department · Wednesday, September 16, 2026
DOJ charges Russian intelligence network over murder and terror plots
The File desk · Sep 16, 2026, 2:20 PM UTC
Status
Confirmed from a Justice Department Office of Public Affairs release dated Sept. 15, 2026.
Federal prosecutors unsealed charges Tuesday against five people they say worked for Russian intelligence services. The Justice Department alleges the network paid or tried to pay people in the United States and elsewhere to watch targets and carry out killings, and that it also commissioned attacks on civilian and military infrastructure in European countries seen as helping Ukraine. The indictment, in the Southern District of New York, names Yuri Khrameev, Kirill Khrameev, Oemis Romagoza Durruthy, Yaidel Delgado Suarez, and Angel Eduardo Castro. Prosecutors say the group recently tried to recruit people inside the United States to surveil and murder a U.S.-based Russian dissident, including an offer of about $40,000 to “eliminate” the target. All five face a terrorism-finance conspiracy count that carries up to 20 years; three also face a murder-for-hire conspiracy count that carries up to 10 years. The defendants remain at large. An indictment is an accusation; defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Federal prosecutors unsealed charges Tuesday against five people they say worked for Russian intelligence services.
The Justice Department alleges the network paid or tried to pay people in the United States and elsewhere to watch targets and carry out killings, and that it also commissioned attacks on civilian and military infrastructure in European countries seen as helping Ukraine.
The indictment, in the Southern District of New York, names Yuri Khrameev, Kirill Khrameev, Oemis Romagoza Durruthy, Yaidel Delgado Suarez, and Angel Eduardo Castro.
Prosecutors say the group recently tried to recruit people inside the United States to surveil and murder a U.S.-based Russian dissident, including an offer of about $40,000 to “eliminate” the target.
All five face a terrorism-finance conspiracy count that carries up to 20 years; three also face a murder-for-hire conspiracy count that carries up to 10 years.
The defendants remain at large. An indictment is an accusation; defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
What is still unknown or disputed
- Extradition timelines and any sealed companion filings are not detailed in the public release.
Primary sources
Every claim in this story is drawn from the documents below. If a fetch failed, that is recorded on the card.
Source 1
Members of Russian Intelligence Services Network Charged with Conspiring to Finance Terrorism and Commit Murder for Hire in the United States
U.S. Department of Justice · September 15, 2026
Unsealing of charges against five individuals working for the intelligence services of the Russian Federation to conduct attacks and murders around the world, including in the United States; defendants remain at large.
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/members-russian-intelligence-services-network-charged-conspiring-finance-terrorism-and