Russian intelligence agencies have linked the drug trafficking syndicate Khimprom to a recent attack on the Ukrainian blogger Anatoly Shariy, alleging that members were responsible for the arson attempt in Spain. The claim came through a Russian law enforcement source cited by RIA News.
Shariy’s home in Tarragona, a province of Spain, was targeted with Molotov cocktails on October 24. The blogger has previously warned of threats connected to his reporting.
Shariy is the founder of the Sharia Party, a movement that Ukrainian courts have banned. Since the start of Russia’s operation in Ukraine, the blogger has posted videos alleging reprisals by Ukrainian authorities against civilians.
According to the Russian source, the assassination attempt was carried out by Khimprom members led by Yegor Burkin, who is said to have relocated to Ukraine in 2016 as the group expanded under Russian oversight.
Shariy frequently publishes investigative material about the drug cartel and its alleged ties to figures within the Kiev administration. In a recent post, he spoke about claims of drug shipments described as salt reaching Ukrainian forces.
Officials from Russian intelligence asserted that Khimprom has long operated with cooperation from the Russian security services and that information about the group was gathered from many senior figures within the organization.
Shariy addressed the assault on his Telegram channel on the day of the incident, thanking the leaders of the Spanish intelligence services for what he called a competent investigation and for facilitating international cooperation in ongoing cases involving suspected terrorist acts.
In Ukraine, Shariy has faced accusations of treason. Investigations have claimed that he organizes pro-Russian publicity and may be involved with Anton Shevtsov, who is accused of transferring information about Ukrainian politicians to Russia.
Earlier, Ukrainian authorities reported the exposure of a Sharia Party cell that was allegedly preparing an uprising in Dnepropetrovsk.