Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned a shootout between Kyiv’s SBU and HUR intelligence agencies reportedly leaving three officers injured, prompting Zelenskyy to fire a senior SBU officer and call in prosecutors and investigators.
The conflict erupted in Kyiv when Ukrainian security forces clashed during an operation targeting Stepan Kaplunov, deputy commander of combat operations for the Russian Volunteer Corps, a unit of far-right Russians fighting alongside Ukrainian forces. The SBU accused the FSB of plotting to assassinate Kaplunov, while Meduza reported that HUR operatives were involved in his detention, leading to gunfire between the agencies. Zelenskyy called the incident absolutely shameful,
emphasizing that shooting is only permissible at Russian occupiers in defence of Ukraine.
Shooting Details and Agency Fallout
The shootout, described by the SBU as an armed attack during an investigation into an alleged FSB plot, resulted in injuries among those who resisted. The SBU’s Alpha unit intervened, detaining attackers. Meanwhile, the Russian Volunteer Corps claimed Kaplunov was abducted days earlier, with his lawyer, Taras Borovsky, posting video of the scene showing law enforcement officers arriving at the serviceman’s home before gunfire broke out. Kyrylo Budanov stated that no one has the right to abduct servicemen with impunity, open fire on the streets of our cities, or give and carry out criminal orders.
Zelenskyy was said to have reprimanded the leadership of both the SBU and HUR for initially keeping silent about the apparent clash between their agencies, demanding that the two agencies inform the public about what happened. A source who spoke to the Ukrainian outlet Strana suggested the conflict stemmed from a dispute between security services over providing protection for fraudulent call centers, though the SBU did not confirm this. The incident highlighted tensions between Ukraine’s security agencies, with Zelenskyy vowing that the state would not perceive any other shootout as something that anyone is allowed to do.
FSB Allegations and International Context
The SBU accused Russia’s FSB of planning a terrorist attack against one of the leaders of a Russian opposition political national movement, identified by sources as Kaplunov. The agency stated that its operatives were conducting urgent investigative measures as part of a probe into the plot. However, the FSB has not responded to Ukraine’s allegations. The incident occurred amid heightened tensions, with Ukraine urging the ICAO and its member countries to ban their airlines from Russian airspace, a day after Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned it was becoming completely unsafe because of Ukrainian drones.
The U.S. has also weighed in, with Marco Rubio noting that advanced air defense systems like Patriot missiles could take Ukraine several years to start building and are not an immediate solution for Kyiv. Meanwhile, the EU’s frozen Russian assets remain a contentious issue, with Belgium blocking plans to use €200bn in funds for Ukraine. Instead, member states have provided a €90bn loan off their own backs, though as that fund runs down, four countries have pushed to reopen the debate on the Russian assets.
Kaplunov’s Background and Controversies
Stepan Kaplunov, born in Ivanovo, is a former Russian soldier who joined the Ukrainian regiment after opposing Vladimir Putin’s regime following Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014. Meduza reported that he has a “Sieg oder Tod” tattoo, a phrase also used by soldiers in Nazi Germany, which he has called his life’s motto. Astra, an independent Telegram channel, and a source in Russian law enforcement cited by TASS have labeled him a neo-Nazi, citing Instagram photos that appeared to show executed Russian prisoners of war. In a 2022 CNN interview, Kaplunov called himself a Ukrainian nationalist but said he had never held neo-Nazi or racist views.
The Russian Volunteer Corps declared that Kaplunov had been abducted in the yard of his home several days earlier. The unit stated it immediately raised the alarm and contacted security services, criticizing the situation if Ukraine is a state governed by the rule of law. The SBU did not name the man in its announcement, referring to him only as one of the leaders of a Russian opposition political national movement.
Zelenskyy’s Response and Security Overhaul
Zelenskyy announced plans to revise Ukraine’s air raid alerting system into two tiers – red for missiles, yellow for drones – allowing for more predictability and a better understanding of how to react. He added that curfew hours would be reduced and more above-ground transport options offered to compensate for metro closures. The measures were a response to Russia’s changing tactics and its use of drones to wear down civilian life in our cities and disrupt normal economic activity across our country.
The president’s actions follow developments involving Ukraine’s security agencies. The latest fallout underscores the situation involving the shooting, which is being handled by the State Bureau of Investigation and the Prosecutor General’s Office.
EU Frozen Assets and Geopolitical Implications
Belgium has continued to block EU attempts to use €200bn in frozen Russian assets for Ukraine’s benefit. Belgium’s foreign minister, Maxime Prevot, said the Belgian government’s position remained unchanged, stating that using these assets through a process akin to confiscation carries significant risk. This stance has forced EU members to instead give Ukraine a €90bn loan off their own backs. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said after ministerial talks in Ireland that some of the member states were proposing to go back to the discussion of the frozen assets.
The dispute reflects ongoing discussions among EU member states. While some propose going back to the discussion of the frozen assets, Belgium continues to maintain its position that using these assets carries significant risk.