# A Russian FSB officer accused by Ukraine of trying to assassinate Kyrylo Budanov is attending peace talks in Abu Dhabi. His alleged target is there, too — as part of Ukraine’s delegation.

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/a-russian-fsb-officer-accused-by-ukraine-of-trying-to-assassinate-kyrylo-budanov-is-attending-peace-talks-in-abu-dhabi-his-alleged-target-is-there-too-as/
- Published: 2026-11-10T14:52:15+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-10T21:05:34+00:00
- Original publisher: Meduza
- Original article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/11/10/a-russian-fsb-officer-accused-by-ukraine-of-trying-to-assassinate-kyrylo-budanov-is-attending-peace-talks-in-abu-dhabi-his-alleged-target-is-there-too-as-part-of-ukraine-s-delegation
- Topics: Europe, Russia-Ukraine War, World

## Key points

- FSB officer Dmitry Minaev is attending Abu Dhabi peace talks.
- Ukraine accused his department of a failed attempt on Budanov.
- Budanov is also part of Ukraine’s delegation.

## Summary

Dmitry Minaev, a senior Russian FSB officer accused by Ukrainian sources of involvement in a failed attempt to assassinate Kyrylo Budanov, is attending trilateral peace talks in Abu Dhabi. Budanov, now Ukraine’s presidential chief of staff, is also at the talks as part of Ukraine’s delegation, bringing the two men together in the same diplomatic setting.

Russia’s delegation includes five members and six experts, with four participants attending for the first time, according to the investigative outlet Agentstvo. The Wall Street Journal, citing Western intelligence officials, reported that Minaev’s counterintelligence department conducts sabotage operations in Ukraine; Ukrainian sources told the paper the department was behind the alleged attempt, whose timing is unknown. Minaev has also been linked to detentions of US citizens, including journalist Evan Gershkovich, who said Minaev accompanied prisoners during the August 2024 exchange.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.