SBU officers and HUR soldiers clashed with weapons on 2 September in Kiev during actions concerning Stepan Kapulnov. 3 HURs were injured. The SBU accuses the deputy commander of the Russian Volunteer Corps of contacts with the FSB, he denies it. The case reveals a serious crisis of coordination of Ukrainian services.
Two servants, 2 versions of the shooting
The clash occurred in the Kiev territory of Berezniaki. SBU carried out activities towards Stepan Kapulov, Deputy Commander of the Russian Volunteer Corps, a formation subordinate to HUR military intelligence. According to information collected by Ukrainian media, 3 HUR soldiers were injured in the shooting, including 2 hard.
The course of action remains disputed. The SBU maintains that its officers were attacked during the preparations for the assassination and utilized weapons, resisting resistance. The commander of the HUR unit "Timur" claims that it was SBU officers who shot unarmed military intelligence soldiers. The available video does not let to clearly find who fired the first shot.
SBU allegations and Kapulnov's reply
According to SBU, Kapłunow was to contact the Russian national safety Service and receive the task of preparing the assassination of 1 of the leaders of the Russian opposition who arrived in Ukraine for the independency Day celebration on August 24. The service published material that it presents as correspondence with the Russian lead officer, and a recording of the detainee's statement. These are the claims of the SBU, not the uncovering of a final court.
Kapulov presented the other account. He said that on August 23, he was taken by unidentified people claiming to be police officers, was held for 9 days and subjected to intellectual pressure. He claims he was forced to confirm the version of contact with the Russian services. According to his study during the search of the flat on September 2, no prohibited items were found, and after the shooting he was evacuated by HUR squad.
The dispute is of peculiar importance due to the fact that Russia has been trying to penetrate Ukrainian structures for years and exploit interior conflicts. The SBU has a work to prosecute an agent, but the charge of treason must be proven legally. The credibility of a state defending itself against Russian aggression besides depends on the ability of the services to act in clear procedures. We've described it before. SBU actions against corruption related to mobilisation.
Zelenski demands clarification
Volodymyr Zelenski called the incidental a disgraceful situation and announced the examination of all the evidence and subsequent stages of the operation. The lawyer General of Ukraine and the State Investigation Office are to establish responsibility. president dismissed by Decree No 868/2026 Oleha Chramov, Head of the SBU Department liable for protecting state secrecy and licensing.
For Ukraine fighting Russia is simply a test of state discipline. Intelligence and counterintelligence may disagree in grades, but the exchange of fire between their own formations in the capital weakens safety and gives Moscow ready-made propaganda material. Poland has its own interests in this: aid directed at Ukraine must go to a country capable of controlling services, settling mistakes and protecting military secrets. Kiev should present full findings, without sweeping the dispute under the carpet.
In the background there remains a wider fight against Russian operations. An example is detention on Starlink terminals transferred to the Russians. This war requires toughness against the agent, but besides procedures that do not let Ukrainian formations to start fighting among themselves.
