Why It Matters
The Justice Department’s charges highlight ongoing efforts by Russian intelligence operatives to destabilize U.S. allies and target dissidents abroad.
What Happened
Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the unsealed indictment on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, during a press conference in the White House Rose Garden. The charges were filed in the Southern District of New York against multiple Russian citizens accused of working for Russia’s intelligence community.
The indictment alleges that the group, identified by prosecutors as the “RIS Network,” coordinated terrorist attacks against military and civilian infrastructure in European nations aligned with Ukraine. The network also allegedly tracked and surveilled Russian dissidents in the United States and Europe starting in 2024.
Prosecutors stated the group attempted to recruit individuals within the U.S. to carry out attacks in Europe. One specific plot involved recruiting a Venezuelan citizen living in the U.S. during the summer of 2026. That individual was allegedly directed to surveil and murder a prominent Russian dissident believed to be in Washington, D.C.
Communications on encrypted messaging apps discussed murder-for-hire instructions and payment arrangements. The indictment names three alleged high-ranking members: Yuri Khrameev, Kirill Khrameev, and Oemis Romagoza Durruthy. Two alleged recruiters, Yaidel Delgado Suarez and Angel Eduardo Castro, are also named.
By the Numbers
September 15, 2026 — Date of indictment announcement
2024 — Year network allegedly began tracking dissidents
Summer of 2026 — Time of recruitment of Venezuelan citizen
Three — Number of alleged “high-ranking” members named in indictment
Two — Number of alleged recruiters named in indictment
Zoom Out
The charges reflect a broader pattern of foreign intelligence operations targeting political dissidents and critical infrastructure. Similar cases have emerged involving other nations seeking to influence or disrupt democratic processes abroad.
What’s Next
The defendants will face legal proceedings in federal court as prosecutors build their case based on intercepted communications and witness testimony.