In the heart of Kyiv: shootout between military intelligence personnel and the SBU
An unusual incident occurred in the Ukrainian capital following the arrest of a Russian opposition fighter suspected of ties to Moscow's intelligence services. Volodymyr Zelensky ordered both sides to lay down their arms and open an investigation into the incident.
A shootout between two different Ukrainian security service organizations broke out on Wednesday morning during an investigation into an alleged Russian plot against a senior Russian opposition figure staying in Ukraine.
Earlier, a source in the Ukrainian Defense Forces told the Kyiv Independent newspaper that the cause of the confrontation was the arrest of Stepan Kaplunov, deputy commander of the Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC) fighting alongside Kyiv.
Kaplunov was in Ukraine for the Independence Day celebrations on August 24 but, as the RVC wrote on Telegram, "was kidnapped by unknown persons in his courtyard." When the authorities announced that the alleged plot had been foiled, reports of a shootout in Kyiv began to emerge.
According to the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine, officers of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) were attacked by "one of the units of the Ukrainian Defense Forces" while conducting an investigation.
"During investigative actions in proceedings regarding the terrorist activity of the FSB of the Russian Federation, an armed attack on SBU officers occurred," the Telegram post stated.
"During the suppression of the armed resistance, law enforcement officers used weapons," it further stated. Speaking to journalists, presidential advisor Dmytro Lytvyn said that the two units involved were the SBU and the Main Directorate of Intelligence (HUR) of Ukraine.
He added that President Volodymyr Zelensky summoned the heads of both and ordered them to inform the public about what was happening. The head of the President's Office called for a "thorough and impartial investigation," reported RBC-Ukraine.
