Added 3/2: I note that annieli has been on this story here and here and here, while ahrpdx mentioned it here. Sorry not to have credited these diarists!
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Via Olga Lautman, a story from the Ukrainian Independent Information Agency (UNIAN.NET) reports that the FSB (Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation) tipped off the Ukrainians to a plot by “Kadyrovites” (Chechens; Putin’s most loyal servitors) to assassinate Ukrainian President Zelensky. The Ukrainians snuffed them out. Excerpt from the Google translation:
The special operation that was to be carried out directly by the Kadyrovites to eliminate our president is fully known to us today. And I can say that we received information from representatives of the FSB, who today have no desire to take part in this bloody war. And thanks to For this, I can say, that Kadyrov's elite group, which went here specifically to eliminate our president, was directly destroyed," Danilov said. www-unian-net.translate.goog/...
If true, Russians are doing the job of reining in Vladimir Putin. That’s the right way to end this war safely, without it going nuclear. And there are other reports of Russian soldiers slowing down the war effort or refusing orders entirely. So, maybe, maybe, something very important is happening.
There’s a lot of misinformation out there and I don’t want to add to it. I don’t have confirmation, but the sources seem pretty solid. This could be a big break in the attempt to end this nightmare. I pray it is so.
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Adding: The Hill and Newsweek have picked up the story, so it’s officially in US media, though I don’t see any further independent sourcing.
The Times of Israel cites the Kyiv Independent citing the same Ukrainian sources in what seems to be the same story:
Ukrainian military forces were successful in destroying a Chechen special forces column of 56 tanks near the capital of Kyiv on Saturday [February 26th], Ukrainian news agency The Kyiv Independent reported.
According to the report, which the outlet said was confirmed by the Ukrainian President’s Office, the attack killed top Chechen general Magomed Tushayev, head of the 141 motorized regiment of the Chechnya National Guard.
Updates, 3/2: As noted by Dan K in comments, the Washington Post has picked up the story in part and still with no independent sourcing:
Oleksiy Danilov, the secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, said during a broadcast marathon airing on Ukrainian TV channels that officials were recently tipped off that a unit of Kadyrovites, elite Chechen special forces, was on its way to kill Zelensky. After Ukrainian officials were informed by Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), the Chechen special forces were killed Saturday on the outskirts of Kyiv, Danilov said.
Photos of what purports to be the tank column are on YouTube, and a link is provided via NJToday