FBI exposes Kremlin hit squad targeting Putin's opponents, investigation shows

Russia FBI exposes Kremlin hit squad targeting Putin's opponents, investigation shows March 13, 2026 7:53 pm • 3 min read Prefer on Google by Oleg Sukhov The Kremlin has created a death squad to kidnap and kill opponents of Russian President Vladimir Putin's regime, the Insider, an independent Russian media outlet, reported on March 13. However, the hit squad was exposed when one of its employees was arrested in Colombia in February, according to the Insider. The report follows the murders and mysterious deaths of more than 20 Putin critics since he came to power in 1999. On Feb. 14, five European governments said that Russia had likely killed opposition leader Alexei Navalny with a dart frog toxin called epibatidine in 2024. The death squad, called Center 795, was created in December 2022, the Insider reported. Become a member – go ad‑free The unit is headed by Denis Fisenko, a colonel of Russia's Federal Security Service , and includes officers the FSB and Russia's military intelligence , according to the media outlet. The hit squad allegedly reports to the General Staff and the Defense Ministry. The Insider also published a list of the squad's employees and explained its structure. The media outlet reported that Center 795 is based at the Patriot Park in the town of Kubinka, Moscow Oblast. The center is using a training ground belonging to arms producer Kalashnikov, which is owned by military conglomerate Rostekhnologii, according to the publication. The squad is reportedly financed by Andrei Bokaryov, a co-owner of Kalashnikov. Become a member – go ad‑free One of the unit's employees, Denis Alimov, was arrested at Colombia's El Dorado International Airport on Feb. 24. He was traveling as a tourist from Istanbul and booked a hotel in Cartagena, Colombia. Alimov was charged by the U.S. with planning to kidnap and murder opponents of Putin and terrorism financing. He is in custody in Colombia and may be extradited to the U.S. The Insider reported, citing its source...