Pro-Russian News Outlet Claims Authorities Foiled an Assassination Attempt Against Tucker Carlson

A video posted by pro-Russian news outlet The Intel Drop on Monday purported to show a Russian citizen confessing to an assassination attempt against Maine’s Tucker Carlson.

The man in the alleged confession video, which has not been verified by western media, claimed he was paid by Ukrainian intelligence to plant explosives on a vehicle that Carlson would have used.

“A man has just been arrested in Moscow, accused of being paid by Ukrainian intelligence to plant an explosive device on Tucker Carlson’s vehicle and assassinate the prominent American journalist while he was there to interview Putin,” said Simon Ateba, Chief White House correspondent at Today News Africa on X.

Community notes appeared below the post, warning readers that the information came from a pro-Kremlin news outlet.

Intel Drop’s video shows a Russian man, Pyotor Alexeievich Vasiliev, apparently testifying to Russian authorities that he was recruited in November by Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence (HUR), and trained in the use of explosives in order to carry out an assassination.

In January, Vasiliev said he was contacted by his Ukrainian handler, who directed him to an explosive device.

“I was trained in working with special communications, collecting, and detonating explosive devices. On January 31, I received a task from the curator to pick up an explosive device from a hiding place and use it to blow up a car,” said Vasiliev.

Vasiliev said he was instructed to place the explosive under a car in the underground parking garage of the Moscow Four Seasons hotel, and was initially unaware of the target.

During the interrogation, he claimed that he has since become aware that the target was Carlson.

Vasiliev was allegedly apprehended “at the preparation stage” of the assassination attempt.

According to the video he was paid only $4,000 for his crime.

Carlson has not yet commented publicly on the story.