Rare Shootout Between Ukraine’s Top Intelligence Agencies Wounds Three, Prompts Zelenskyy Rebuke

A rare and violent confrontation between Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) and the Main Directorate of Intelligence (HUR, also referred to as DIU) in Kyiv on Wednesday has left three intelligence officers wounded and prompted a sharp public rebuke from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who called the incident “an absolutely disgraceful situation.”

The standoff unfolded in the capital’s Dniprovskyi district after SBU officers detained Stepan Kaplunov, the deputy commander for combat operations of the Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC), a unit of Russian nationals fighting on Ukraine’s side. The RVC operates under HUR’s umbrella, and the detention appears to have triggered an armed response from HUR personnel.

According to the Prosecutor General’s Office, SBU officers had been acting on orders to prevent a “terrorist act” allegedly orchestrated by Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB). During a search at a residential address, a group of individuals – later identified by local media as belonging to HUR – “carried out an armed attack on the SBU operational-investigative group,” the prosecutor’s statement said. The group tried to block law enforcement vehicles and prevent investigative actions.

Ukrainska Pravda, citing sources in law enforcement, reported that three DIU officers were injured in the shootout. The State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) dispatched investigators to the scene, and the commander of the SBU’s elite Alpha special operations centre also arrived. Both sides eventually agreed to unload their weapons to allow investigative procedures to begin. No outsiders are currently being permitted access to the area, according to Ukrainska Pravda’s sources. Source: Ukrainska Pravda – 2 September 2026

By Thursday, the SBI had served notices of suspicion on two servicemen involved in the standoff, Ukrainska Pravda reported, though further details on the charges were not immediately available. Source: Ukrainska Pravda – 3 September 2026

Kaplunov’s abduction – or detention – was first reported on 1 September by the Russian Volunteer Corps, which claimed he had been seized by unknown individuals in a residential courtyard. The SBI confirmed it had received a complaint about an abduction from Kaplunov’s family. The legal status of Kaplunov remains unclear; it is not known whether he is in SBU custody or has been transferred to other authorities.

The RVC was established in 2022 and consists of Russian volunteers who have fought alongside Ukrainian forces against the Russian invasion. The unit has been a source of controversy both inside and outside Ukraine, but it operates under the formal command of HUR. Wednesday’s clash suggests a breakdown in coordination between the two agencies that are supposed to share responsibility for countering Russian subversion.

Presidential adviser Dmytro Lytvyn confirmed the involvement of both the SBU and HUR in the shootout, Al Jazeera reported. Source: Al Jazeera – 3 September 2026

Why it matters

For a European audience following the war closely, this incident is more than an internal squabble. It exposes a dangerous fracture in Ukraine’s security architecture at a time when Russian forces are pressing on the front line and Moscow’s intelligence services are actively seeking to destabilise the country from within. A public gunfight between two agencies that are supposed to protect the state undermines public trust and provides fodder for Russian disinformation campaigns that portray Ukraine’s leadership as chaotic or corrupt.

The episode also raises questions about the chain of command for volunteer units like the RVC. While they are formally subordinate to HUR, their operational autonomy and the loyalty of their fighters can create friction with the SBU, which has a legal mandate to pre-empt terrorist threats. The lack of a clear protocol for handling such detentions appears to have contributed to the violence.

President Zelenskyy’s unusually blunt condemnation suggests the political leadership is alarmed. In a statement, he said the situation was “absolutely disgraceful” and demanded a full investigation. It remains to be seen whether the two agencies can restore a working relationship – and whether any officers will face disciplinary or criminal consequences beyond the suspicion notices already issued.

What’s next

The SBI investigation is ongoing. Both the SBU and HUR have declined to comment publicly on the operational details. The open questions – what exactly led to the shootout, where Kaplunov is now, and how future inter-agency disputes will be managed – will shape the aftermath of this unprecedented confrontation.