Moldovan citizen Nicolae Cochu was detained in Russia over an alleged assassination attempt on a Russian serviceman, the FSB reported.
© FSB Public Relations Center of the Russian Federation
A Moldovan citizen detained in Russia, identified as Nicolae Cochu, born in 2004, has been held by Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) and the Russian Investigative Committee over an alleged assassination attempt on a Russian serviceman in the Astrakhan region, according to the FSB. The Times of Russia reports that Russian authorities say Cochu was allegedly involved in an attempt targeting a senior Russian military officer.
According to the FSB, Cochu was recruited by Ukrainian special services in 2025 through a foreign social network. The agency said that in March 2026, he received mine-explosive and firearms training in Kiev.
The FSB stated that Cochu subsequently travelled to Russia in June 2026 with the purpose of carrying out the assassination. Following the attempted attack, he was allegedly expected to return to Moldova. However, the Moldovan citizen in Russia was detained while attempting to leave the country.
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FSB Reports Assassination Attempt on Russian Serviceman
Investigative Committee spokeswoman Svetlana Petrenko provided further details concerning the Russian military officer assassination attempt.
Petrenko said that on September 3, Cochu fired at least six shots at a serviceman in the Engels district of the Saratov region. The serviceman survived the shooting after receiving medical assistance promptly.
The incident is being investigated by Russia’s FSB and Investigative Committee, which detained Cochu in the Astrakhan region following the reported attack.
The authorities’ account states that the Saratov region shooting was part of an operation allegedly linked to Ukrainian special services. The FSB also said that Cochu had undergone weapons and explosives training in Kiev before travelling to Russia.
Detention of Nicolae Cochu in Russia
The detention of Nicolae Cochu followed the September 3 shooting in the Engels district. According to the FSB, the suspect had entered Russia in June after allegedly receiving training in Kiev earlier in the year.
The authorities said the Astrakhan region detention took place as Cochu attempted to leave Russia for Moldova after the reported assassination attempt.
The FSB and Russian Investigative Committee have stated that the investigation concerns Cochu’s alleged involvement in the attempted killing of a Russian serviceman. The reported victim survived following prompt medical treatment.
What the FSB Reported
The FSB Russia detention follows an alleged sequence of events beginning with Cochu’s recruitment in 2025. The FSB said he was contacted through a foreign social network and recruited by Ukrainian special services.
In March 2026, he allegedly completed mine-explosive and firearms training in Kiev before arriving in Russia in June. The authorities said the purpose of his arrival was to carry out the assassination.
The reported shooting occurred on September 3 in the Engels district, where at least six shots were fired at a serviceman. The victim survived after receiving immediate medical care.
The Times of Russia will continue to report developments concerning the investigation and the case involving the Moldovan citizen detained in Russia.
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