Ukrainian security officials on Monday said a plot to overthrow the federal government in Kyiv had been thwarted as Russia ramps up attacks on the capital city.
Four Ukrainian civilians were detained over the weekend on suspicion of planning an alleged coup by seizing Parliament and announcing their intent to replace military and civilian leadership, said the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) following an investigation that began in May.
Ukrainian officials have offered few details regarding the plot but said the "activists" were working under the guise of forming a peaceful rally in Kyiv on Sunday.
Despite dissident messages exchanged on social media, the majority of the participants of the event were allegedly unaware of the group’s intent to "force" the public to "choose a temporary government," claimed Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s office in a Telegram post.