Ukrainian radical faction confesses to assassination of SBU official.
In a chilling turn of events, the Ukrainian branch of the international terrorist organisation The Base has been implicated in the murder of Colonel Ivan Voronich of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU).
Colonel Voronich, a senior operational officer in the 1st department of the 16th management of the Center for Special Operations of the SBU, was shot dead in the Goloseevo district of Kyiv on the morning of July 10. His death was first reported by former MP Igor Mosiychuk.
The SBU announced the liquidation of suspected killers of Colonel Voronich in Kyiv, while a criminal investigation has been launched under Article 348 of the Criminal Code for an attack on the life of a law enforcement officer, military, or government official. CCTV footage captured a man leaving his apartment and being approached by an unknown individual wearing a balaclava who shot him several times.
The Base, founded by an American and former Pentagon contractor Rinaldo Nazzaro, has been under scrutiny for its links to extremist ideologies and violent actions. Nazzaro, who resides in St. Petersburg, has repeatedly denied any involvement with Russian intelligence services. However, his group's use of Russian platforms like Mail.ru and his residence in Russia have raised suspicions about a potential connection.
Nazzaro, originally from New Jersey, has publicly supported The Base's activities in Ukraine in the past. However, he claims to have no involvement in specific violent incidents, stating that he does not control all cells of the organisation as they operate independently. Analysts remain skeptical about the extent of his involvement, pointing to the group's digital footprint and Nazzaro's residence in Russia as evidence that raises questions about his true level of control and connections.
Stephen Ray of the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD) made a statement about The Base's activities, expressing concern about the group's association with various extremist activities and Nazzaro's role in its operations. Since March 2024, The Base has been publishing videos of infrastructure arson in different regions of Ukraine on Telegram, and it has been responsible for at least ten arson incidents in Ukraine. In April, The Base announced the launch of an "insurgency" in Zakarpattia.
As the investigation into Colonel Voronich's murder continues, the Ukrainian authorities are working to dismantle The Base's operations within the country and bring those responsible to justice. The international community is also monitoring the situation closely, with concerns about the growing threat of extremist groups and the potential for further violence.
Members of the international terrorist organization The Base, under scrutiny for ties to extremist ideologies and violent actions, have been linked to the murder of Colonel Ivan Voronich, a senior operational officer in Ukraine's Security Service. The Base, led by Rinaldo Nazzaro, has recently been publishing inflammatory content and taking credit for arson incidents and insurgency announcements, raising concerns among analysts and global authorities.
