Several people were injured in a shootout in central Kyiv between two branches of Ukraine’s security services. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the incident “disgraceful.”
The shooting happened on Wednesday morning in a downtown area of the capital, involving officers from the SBU (the domestic security service) and the HUR (the military intelligence directorate).
On Thursday, the SBU said in a statement that the shootout “definitely shouldn’t have happened” and that it was cooperating with state investigators.
The clash appears to have started after the SBU recently arrested a Russian man who was fighting for Ukraine under the HUR’s supervision. Local media reported that while SBU officers were searching an apartment linked to the investigation, HUR officers arrived and shots were fired, leaving three HUR officers injured.
The SBU said that, along with the HUR, it had stopped a Russian-backed terrorist plot targeting a Russian opposition leader who had recently arrived in Ukraine. In a separate statement, the SBU said its officers came under armed attack during an investigation and used their weapons in self-defense.
On Thursday, the SBU released a video of the Russian national fighting for Ukraine who had been arrested last month. In the video, the man says he was contacted by someone from Russia working for Moscow’s intelligence agency, who wanted to recruit him to assassinate Ukrainian defense personnel and others. The man’s lawyer told local media that the video was made under pressure and was being released to “whitewash” the shootout. The man has since been released from SBU custody.
Hours after the shootout, Zelenskyy fired Oleh Khramov, the SBU’s head of the department for protecting state secrets.
“Shooting here in Ukraine is permitted only at Russian occupiers, in defense of Ukraine. Our state will never regard any other shootout as acceptable,” Zelenskyy wrote in a social media post.
The incident comes at a sensitive time for Zelenskyy. He has recently faced pressure from a dismissed defense minister to hold wartime elections. The demand from Mykhailo Fedorov, whose firing sparked protests, was the biggest challenge to Zelenskyy’s authority from within Ukraine since the Russian invasion began.
Zelenskyy also recently dismissed a deputy chief of staff in the presidential office amid reports she was being investigated over an alleged money-laundering scheme.
The president said the shooting on Wednesday needed to be investigated by both the SBU and the HUR. Ukraine’s main investigative agency has also opened an inquiry.
In a separate incident, a 71-year-old man was shot outside a medical clinic in Kyiv on Thursday morning and remains in “serious condition,” according to the Kyiv city prosecutor’s office. An investigation into attempted murder has been launched.
The shootings come as Kyiv endures heavy Russian bombardment. Air raid alerts have been active for long stretches during the day and night in the capital. Across the country, at least five people were killed in strikes on Wednesday night. Ukraine is facing a critical shortage of US-made Patriot interceptors, which are needed to shoot down Russian ballistic missiles.
Ukraine has also stepped up its use of long-range drones to strike deep into Russian territory. This week, Zelenskyy said Russian airspace was becoming unsafe for commercial airlines due to the growing number of drone attacks.
On Thursday, Russian media reported that the military officer who ordered a missile strike on the Okhmatdyt children’s hospital in Kyiv in July 2024 had been shot. Major General Nikolai Varpakhovich was reportedly shot twice by an attacker on a motorbike wearing a helmet. The officer remains in critical condition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs regarding President Zelenskyys reaction to the clash between Ukrainian intelligence agencies in Kyiv
General Background
Q What actually happened in Kyiv
A There was a physical altercation between officers from two different Ukrainian intelligence agenciesthe Security Service of Ukraine and the Defense Intelligence Reports say the clash involved military personnel and occurred in a central Kyiv area
Q Why were they fighting
A The exact cause is still under investigation but local media reports suggest the fight started over a personal dispute or a conflict regarding operational jurisdiction It did not appear to be a political coup or an attack on the government but rather an internal turf war or personal grudge
Q What did President Zelenskyy say about it
A He called the incident disgraceful and said it was unacceptable especially during a fullscale war He emphasized that such behavior undermines state institutions and plays into the hands of Russia
Specifics Reactions
Q Which agencies were involved in the clash
A The clash involved the SBU and the GUR
Q Did Zelenskyy fire anyone over this
A As of the latest reports he has ordered an official investigation by the State Bureau of Investigation He has stated that if the investigation proves wrongdoing the individuals involved will be held accountable but he has not yet announced specific dismissals of top officials
Q Why is this such a big deal during wartime
A Because unity is critical for survival When elite security forces are fighting each other in the capital it signals disorganization distracts from the war effort and provides propaganda material for Russia Zelenskyy called it criminal because it weakens internal trust
Q Did Russia have anything to do with instigating this
A Ukrainian officials have not confirmed that Russia orchestrated it However Russian media is heavily amplifying the incident to portray the Ukrainian government as chaotic and dysfunctional Ukrainian authorities are wary that Russian intelligence might try to exploit such tensions
Practical Advanced Questions
