Fallout from 'disgraceful' HUR, SBU shootout deepens with more FSB accusations, denials
The competing accounts emerged a day after a confrontation between SBU officers and members of Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR) in Kyiv ended in a shootout with three HUR service members injured.
On September 3, the deputy commander of the Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC), Stepan Kaplunov, denied claims of liaising with Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) and involvement in planned assassinations. Kaplunov claimed he only admitted to the allegations after enduring nine days of psychological pressure and threats. Meanwhile, Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) accused the same individual of contacts with Russian intelligence, alleging they were working to prevent an FSB-planned assassination on Independence Day.
The clash between the SBU and Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR) occurred the following day in Kyiv, resulting in three HUR personnel being injured. The SBU stated the individual was tasked with preparing an assassination attempt against a Russian opposition figure and killing Ukrainian service members for money. However, Kaplunov told Radio NV that he was forcibly detained near his home on August 23 and held at two different locations for nine days before being released.
He alleged he was subjected to physical and psychological pressure, including being questioned by SBU officers and threatened with disappearance. Kaplunov claimed the SBU officers attempted to enter his home, but he denied these claims. The SBU denied any wrongdoing and said Kaplunov had cooperated with investigators. Kyiv's President Volodymyr Zelensky denounced the confrontation between the SBU and HUR, calling it "disgraceful" and demanding an investigation.
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Independent's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
