The Ukrainian cell of the far-right group Base, which is internationally proscribed and suspected of having connections to Russia, has made claims of responsibility for recent murders in Ukraine. This follows their alleged involvement in the high-profile assassination of an intelligence officer earlier in the summer in Kyiv. In a recent Telegram post, they announced a "successful operation to eliminate an enemy agent" through a car bombing in Odesa, indicating an effort to target perceived traitors who assist the Russian war effort.

The group's Telegram announcement expressed a sense of pride in their actions, describing the victim as a 'traitor' who "served Ukraine, but whose heart was sold to the enemy." This rhetoric not only highlights the group's aggressive stance on internal dissent but also signals a marked escalation in their violent campaign against Ukrainian officials and military personnel. Since April of the previous year, the Base has reportedly been incentivizing its followers and hired assassins with monetary rewards to conduct targeted killings, which has raised alarms within Ukrainian security services regarding the growing threat posed by extremist groups exploiting the chaotic environment of the ongoing conflict.

These developments raise significant concerns about the security situation in Ukraine as well as the potential for destabilization from both internal and external sources, particularly given the group's suspected links to Russia. The implications of their actions could extend beyond immediate violence, potentially fostering further discord within Ukraine and complicating the international community's response to the war, as the presence of such extremist factions may challenge the unity and stability needed to combat external aggressions effectively.