According to a report by Reuters on September 3, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that an investigation would be conducted into the escalation of the conflict between two security agencies in Kiev this week, leading to gunfire, in order to determine the exact causes. The incident resulted in injuries to three military intelligence personnel from the Ukrainian Defense Ministry's General Intelligence Service (HUR).
It is reported that the dispute stemmed from the disappearance of Stepan Kapulovnov for nine days. The man is the deputy commander of the Russian anti-government forces, the ‘Volunteer Corps of Russia’, under the General Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense. It is said that he is ‘fighting alongside’ the Ukrainian army.
According to his claims, he was detained by the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) and forced to sign a statement acknowledging cooperation with Russian intelligence agencies. However, he later retracted this statement.
On Tuesday, after the residence of the activist in the center of Kyiv was searched, clashes broke out on the streets. Members of the Ukrainian Security Service fired at personnel from the General Intelligence Agency. The Security Service stated that their action was aimed at "disarming a plot planned by Moscow to assassinate anti-Kremlin Russian activists in Kyiv."
The Ukrainian Security Service is mainly responsible for domestic intelligence and counter-terrorism activities. The General Intelligence Department of the Ministry of Defense, as part of the military, is mainly responsible for foreign intelligence and reconnaissance activities.
"It's important to clarify the truth and ensure that such incidents will not happen again," said Zelensky in his evening video address.
He also said, “The evaluation of the heads of the Security Agency and the Intelligence General Bureau will be based on internal investigation results. Both parties should be held accountable, which is completely fair. Neither party’s behavior should be like this.”
Currently, both of the involved institutions have soldiers who have received suspicion notices due to this incident. In addition, Zelenskyy has dismissed Oleh Hramovych, the head of the Security Service’s department responsible for protecting state secrets.
