A gunfight erupted in Kyiv between different branches of Ukraine's intelligence agencies on Wednesday, officials have confirmed. Three people were wounded in the early morning clash between SBU and HUR units.
Zelensky criticises security leaders
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has criticised leaders of the SBU and the HUR following the incident, according to the president's chief communication adviser Dmytro Lytvyn, as reported by the FT. The cause of the gunfight remains unverified.
SBU statement on the clash
The SBU released a statement alleging that its staff were assaulted while attempting to search a property for a pre-trial investigation into a terrorist act organised by the FSB of the Russian Federation. An SBU spokesperson stated: "During a search at one of the addresses, a group of individuals carried out an armed attack on the SBU operational-investigative group. They tried to hinder the investigation and blocked the passage of law enforcement officers with their cars."
"To stop the attack and ensure the safety of the participants in the procedural actions, a special unit of the Special Operations Center 'Alpha' of the SBU was involved. During the cessation of armed resistance, law enforcement officers used weapons." The spokesperson then alleged the SBU 'detained' members of the Ukrainian defence forces, adding: "As a result of the incident, there are injured people among the people who resisted. The attackers have been detained. During the initial investigative actions, it was established that the detainees belong to one of the units of the Defense Forces of Ukraine. Weapons and documents were seized from them."
Video emerges as drones strike Kyiv
The HUR has remained silent on the incident. Video footage from the confrontation emerged on social media early Thursday morning (September 3), depicting a large group of men in military uniform yelling at each other before multiple gunshots ring out. The incident occurred while Russian drones struck Kyiv for the sixth consecutive day. Russia has intensified its drone warfare tactics in recent months in a bid to devastate Ukraine's economy.
