Shootout between security forces in Kyiv, protests in Spain – daily digest
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Shootout between security structures in Kyiv, protests in Spain – daily digest
On September 2, a shootout occurred in Kyiv "between certain units" of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the Main Directorate of Intelligence (GUR) of the Ministry of Defense. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed this, describing the incident as an "absolutely shameful situation."
"The Prosecutor General and the State Bureau of Investigation will determine all the details: all testimonies and statements of the participants in this event, the entire situation will be investigated step by step," Zelenskyy said.
The Ukrainian president promised to hold those responsible accountable, including making "personnel decisions" and conducting "internal investigations in both services." Also, shortly after, Oleg Khramov, the head of the SBU's "Department of State Secret Protection and Licensing," was dismissed from his post.
On the morning of September 2, reports emerged about a shootout between SBU and GUR officers in the Dniprovskyi district of Kyiv. Representatives of the Security Service stated that an armed attack was carried out against their operational officers during searches. As a result, "some individuals who put up resistance" were wounded, and the attackers were detained, the SBU reported. The agency also stated that the detainees belonged to "one of the units" of the Ukrainian army.
According to unconfirmed reports, this refers to Stepan Kaplunov, a commander of the "Russian Volunteer Corps" unit of the Ukrainian army. The Security Service took him away in connection with a potential "assassination attempt" on him. The military, in turn, resisted the security officers.
It is reported that a shootout broke out between SBU special forces and military intelligence officers during Kaplunov's detention. One GUR officer may have died.
According to Kaplunov's lawyer, his client was "already released" on the afternoon of September 2. The lawyer believes that the SBU's "version about a foiled assassination attempt" might be fabricated.
After a long-term deployment in the Middle East, a US Navy aircraft carrier is entering the Thai resort city of Pattaya.