Ekel was an SVR operative working with Arkady Bazin to track down and kill Jack Bauer. Ekel and several other SVR agents were given the assignment to kill Jack Bauer on orders from President Suvarov. Most of the operatives had no trouble following the order, but Ekel was hesitant, saying there were rumors that Suvarov was involved in the conspiracy surrounding the Kamistani peace treaty, and that Suvarov was after Bauer for personal reasons. Nevertheless, Ekel continued his assignment anyway. Ekel traveled with Bazin and his team as he helped the operatives track down Hector Matlow on a portable monitor. After telling the team that Matlow was hiding in an underground bunker, Ziminova blew up the trailer above Matlow's hideout, and the SVR agents captured Matlow. Ekel later assisted Bazin a