Zelenskyy Condemns Kyiv Gunfight Between Ukraine’s Security Agencies

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has condemned an armed confrontation between two of the country's key security agencies in Kyiv, describing the incident as "absolutely disgraceful" and demanding accountability from those involved.

In his nightly video address, Zelenskyy called for an investigation and said personnel changes could be necessary following the exchange of gunfire between Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) and the country's military intelligence agency, the HUR.

He stressed that Ukrainian weapons should only be directed at Russian forces fighting against the country.

"The only people anyone should be shooting at are the Russian occupiers, in defense of Ukraine," Zelenskyy said. He added that the state would not tolerate gunfire being exchanged between Ukrainian agencies.

The confrontation occurred in Kyiv's Bereznyaky district early on September 2, reportedly waking local residents. Witnesses said they saw injured people and blood at the scene.

The circumstances surrounding the incident remained unclear, with the two agencies offering conflicting accounts.

The SBU initially said it had been working with HUR personnel to prevent a suspected Russian terrorist attack. It later issued a different account, saying its officers had confronted a group of people who attempted to obstruct a search operation.

A commander of HUR's Tymur special forces unit subsequently alleged that SBU officers had detained members of military intelligence and opened fire on them without warning.

Dispute Over Russian Volunteer Corps Commander

The confrontation appears to be linked to the reported detention of Stepan Kaplunov, deputy commander of the Russian Volunteer Corps, a Ukrainian-backed paramilitary organisation associated with the HUR.

Kaplunov's lawyer, Taras Borovskiy, said his client was taken away on August 23 and remained unaccounted for until September 1. He said the SBU had not responded to his requests for information about the detention.

According to Borovskiy, SBU officers took Kaplunov to his apartment during the early hours of September 2 to conduct a search. However, HUR personnel and several of Kaplunov's associates were already inside the property.

The HUR commander said he had reached an understanding with the SBU officer leading the operation, but claimed other SBU personnel subsequently opened fire.

Denis Nikitin, commander of the Russian Volunteer Corps, separately said the SBU search had failed to uncover any incriminating material in Kaplunov's apartment.

The conflicting accounts have added to uncertainty surrounding the confrontation and the events that led to it.

Zelenskyy said prosecutors would investigate the incident and determine responsibility, while signalling that those found to have acted improperly could face consequences.