A senior Russian intelligence operative has been detained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation after an alleged operational mistake exposed a covert Kremlin alleged assassination unit believed to be linked to sensitive missions abroad.
The operative, identified as Denis Alimov, was arrested upon arrival at El Dorado International Airport in Bogotá, Columbia. Investigators believe Alimov was connected to a secretive Russian intelligence structure known as Centre 795, a covert organisation reportedly created during the early months of the war in Ukraine.
The unit is believed to bring together operatives from Russia’s military intelligence service, the GRU, and the domestic security agency, the Federal Security Service. According to reports, the Kremlin established the structure after the activities of another covert unit, GRU Unit 29155, became widely exposed following international incidents including the poisoning attack in Salisbury.
Centre 795 is believed to report directly to Valery Gerasimov, one of the most senior military figures under Russian President Vladimir Putin. The group’s reported activities include battlefield coordination in Ukraine as well as covert operations such as sabotage, abductions and targeted political killings abroad.
Authorities say the investigation took an unexpected turn after communications linked to the alleged operation were discovered through a technical error. According to investigators, one of the operatives used Google Translate while communicating with a suspected contract killer. The translations were reportedly routed through servers in the United States, allowing authorities to obtain access to the communications after securing a court order.
In one of the intercepted exchanges, the suspected hitman reportedly wrote: “I believe we will find him soon, he can’t be moving around all the time. He’ll relax and fall into the trap at some point.”
In another message referencing Alimov, the same individual allegedly stated: “He’s very well connected… one of the closest men to an important government official.”
Prosecutors allege the operation involved plans targeting two Chechen dissidents living in Europe. Investigators claim the operative offered more than £1 million for each target if they could be delivered to Russia, either alive or dead.
Alimov, described as a decorated former member of the elite Alfa special forces unit within the FSB, had reportedly been under investigation for more than a year before his arrest. He is currently being held in Colombia while legal proceedings regarding his possible extradition to the United States continue.
Investigators believe the case may have exposed significant details about Centre 795, including its structure, operational base and network of sponsors. What was intended to function as one of Russia’s most secretive intelligence units may now face serious operational compromise following the arrest.