Russian state media latched onto a dubious plot to assassinate some of the most famous Russians associated with the country's state-run media operations.
Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke about the alleged plot against Russian journalists.
According to the Interfax news agency, Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) arrested six Russian citizens Monday in a plot to kill a prominent pro-Putin firebrand television host and journalist, as well as several other famous Russian journalists.
The state-run Sputnik news agency quoted Putin as saying that the plan was created by Ukrainian security agencies in conjunction with the Central Intelligence Agency.
The Security Service of Ukraine denied its involvement in the plot in a statement, saying that the story was fabricated by Russia.
Baseless theories have been pushed by the Kremlin as part of its information operations during the war.
Images of paraphernalia seized from the alleged conspirators showed swastikas and a photo of Adolf Hitler, which further call into question the plot.
Russia's media landscape is almost entirely state-controlled after a law was passed in March making any reporting on the invasion of Ukraine outside the official government approved crime. Last week, Solyvov attracted significant attention for warning Russia will show no mercy towards NATO and the rest of Europe once it concludes its invasion of Ukraine.
Russia is one of the most dangerous countries for reporters to operate due to restrictive laws and suspected state-sanctioned violence. 58 journalists have been murdered or died in the line of duty in Russia since 1992, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.
The Russian Education Ministry announced last week that Russia's official justification for its invasion of Ukraine will be included in the country's school curriculum.
Putin told prosecutors to be tough.
The Kremlin and Putin have a new focus on Russian youth.
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