Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the country's two main intelligence services to order after their members were involved in an exchange of fire. This is an incident that exposes the rivalry between Ukrainian spies and that, according to experts, benefits Moscow.

First modification: 09/03/2026 - 22:37

A war between Ukrainian spies on the streets of kyiv? Out of the question for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who on Wednesday, September 2, demanded the country's two main intelligence services - the SBU and the GUR - to lay down their arms after members of both organizations exchanged shots hours before.

The Ukrainian president called the incident "absolutely shameful" and warned that no shooting will be tolerated, except to "shoot at the Russian occupiers to defend the country."

Intense confrontation between spies in kyiv

The exchange of fire reported by Volodymyr Zelensky would have left several seriously injured among the members of the GUR, the military intelligence service, according to Ukrainian authorities.

The shooting occurred after a tense confrontation lasting several hours between masked agents dressed in military uniforms of the Ukrainian internal intelligence service, the SBU, and a unit of the GUR special forces.

The SBU agents had come to search the home of number two of that special forces unit, something that would not have been well received by the other members of the group. The shooting "would have occurred after the SBU tried to arrest (GUR) agents who opposed the search," says Ryhor Nizhnikau, a Ukraine specialist at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs.

Versions differ as to who shot first. According to the Ukrainian prosecutor general, SBU officers were attacked, something the GUR denies and maintains that it was its members who were shot first. The Ukrainian Presidency assured that an investigation was opened to determine precisely what happened.

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One thing is certain: the SBU "deployed the Alpha group, that is, one of its elite units, responsible, among other things, for the fight against terrorism. Therefore, this is an important operation in the eyes of Ukrainian counterintelligence," emphasizes Huseyn Aliyev, a specialist in the war in Ukraine at the University of Glasgow.

Why such a confrontation? That is the big unknown, as the circumstances surrounding the incident that angered the Ukrainian president remain unclear.

The case involves pro-Ukrainian Russian fighters under the orders of the GUR, one of whose leaders was allegedly kidnapped by the SBU; an alleged assassination attempt organized by Russian FSB spies in kyiv; and possible political ramifications that would reach the highest levels of the Ukrainian State.

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The hypothesis of an FSB plot

The search that lit the fuse took place at the home of Stepan Kaplunov, deputy commander of the Russian Volunteer Corps, a paramilitary group made up of Russians opposed to Vladimir Putin that is under the orders of the GUR.

"It is a small special forces unit that in 2022 came under the command of the Ukrainian military intelligence services and is used for special operations, mainly on the Russian border or in Russian territory," explains Huseyn Aliyev.

Officially, the SBU is investigating Stepan Kaplunov within the framework of an investigation related to an assassination attempt prepared by the FSB, the Russian intelligence service, against "an important Russian opponent" and which would have been thwarted in kyiv.

Ukrainian spies had already forcibly removed Stepan Kaplunov from his home on August 23, before releasing him several days later. Even then there was talk of this alleged assassination attempt by the FSB.

Ukrainian intelligence services have since claimed that Russian assassins were preparing to strike on August 24, Ukraine's Independence Day, against a Russian opponent who had traveled to kyiv to take part in the celebrations.

Who was that Russian opponent that was in the FSB's sights? Why was it necessary to arrest the number two of a militia of Russian fighters under the orders of the GUR to thwart the assassination attempt? Was Stepan Kaplunov accused of working with Russian spies or possessing information that would allow the FSB plot to be aborted?

In a press release published on Thursday, the SBU stated that Stepan Kaplunov acknowledged having collaborated with Russian intelligence services.

That is not the version that the number two of the Russian Volunteer Corps gave to the site 'The New Voice of Ukraine'. In an interview, he assured that this confession was obtained under duress.

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A story of political rivalry?

The incident is part of the often difficult and sometimes explosive relationship between the two main intelligence services.

"They often invade each other's areas of competence," says Huseyn Aliyev.

Nor is it the first time that this hidden war between spies has led to episodes of violence. In 2022, the GUR accused the SBU of having killed one of its agents, a banker who had obtained information about Russian plans to invade Ukraine.

Ukrainian counterintelligence services had previously suggested that the man was actually a double agent in the service of Moscow.

The Kaplunov case and the dawn shooting in kyiv that it triggered must also be placed in a broader and more conflictive political context.

"The GUR was led for a long time by Kyrylo Budanov (between 2020 and January 2026, NDLR), currently considered a potential political rival of Volodymyr Zelensky," underlines Ryhor Nizhnikau.

For its part, "the SBU depends directly on the Ukrainian Presidency and all its officials are loyal to Volodymyr Zelensky," says Huseyn Aliyev.

Kyrylo Budanov, very popular in Ukraine, was appointed head of the Presidential Administration in January and later replaced at the head of the GUR by Oleh Ivashchenko, "who represents a minor threat as a potential political rival for Volodymyr Zelensky," maintains Ryhor Nizhnikau.

For this expert, behind this case there could therefore be a struggle for political influence in the highest levels of the State.

That is also what Stepan Kaplunov stated to 'The New Voice of Ukraine'. He maintains that "the SBU wanted to obtain information from him that would allow it to discredit the GUR and its former boss, Kyrylo Budanov."

"The objective would be, according to this hypothesis, to separate those loyal to the former head of the GUR and reduce the influence of the presidential advisor on this intelligence service," he explains.

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Huseyn Aliyev is not so convinced that someone like Stepan Kaplunov – mere number two in a small GUR unit – is important enough to have access to truly compromising information.

But, in any case, "this war between the intelligence services benefits Moscow above all," emphasizes Huseyn Aliyev. An opinion shared by Ryhor Nizhnikau, who points out that "while elite units like the Alpha group have to resolve disputes between the services in kyiv, they are not in the business of preparing operations against Russia."

That leaves Moscow's agents more room for maneuver.

This article is an adaptation of its original in French.

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