The Justice Department accused members of Russia's intelligence services of operating a global assassination network targeting Kremlin critics, unsealing an indictment Tuesday in New York against five individuals linked to what prosecutors called the "RIS Network."

The indictment details a murder-for-hire plot that unfolded in July and August. A Venezuelan operative and Cuban recruiter allegedly contacted a Brooklyn resident, offering $1,000 to $1,500 to photograph and video two locations associated with a Russian dissident believed to live in the Washington, D.C. area. They then offered an additional $40,000 to "eliminate" or "disappear" the surveillance target.

The Brooklyn resident agreed to take photos but refused to carry out the killing. When asked if he knew anyone else willing to do the work, one Cuban recruiter responded in coded language: "Let me know as soon as possible because I have a chain and my boss has questions. I have people in Mexico right now and they're delayed. I only need a response to know if someone can do the work. It doesn't have to be today or tomorrow, just need to know if they can."

The five defendants—Yuri Khrameev, 63, a former Russian intelligence colonel; his son Kirill Khrameev; two Cubans; and one Venezuelan—all reside in Russia and remain at large, the Justice Department said.

The indictment also accuses Yuri Khrameev, referred to as "Colonel Yuri," and his son of attempting to recruit a U.S. citizen in Lithuania last year to kill someone allegedly "telling lies about Russia." The U.S. citizen was paid $200 for surveillance photos of the target's address. When offered $25,000 to carry out the murder, the citizen declined. Khrameev then suggested payment for arson—setting a warehouse or electrical substation on fire—and offered "serious money for serious work" while expressing interest in targeting pro-Ukrainian countries.

Members of the RIS Network are also accused of helping facilitate two failed arson attacks in Europe in 2024.

The indictments, unsealed in the Southern District of New York, charge the conspirators with conspiracy to finance terrorism and murder-for-hire conspiracy. Prosecutors allege the network used coded language, referring to assassination as "construction" and surveillance as "measuring a plot of land."

Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the charges Tuesday.