Shootout between Ukraine's SBU and HUR highlights long-standing agency rivalry and procedural concerns

A violent confrontation on Sept. 2 between Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) and the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Armed Forces (HUR) brought to light longstanding friction between the two bodies and raised questions about the legality of their actions. The clash occurred after the SBU said it had detained Stepan Kaplunov, a deputy commander of the Russian Volunteer Corps, on accusations of an FSB-directed plot to assassinate a Russian opposition leader visiting Ukraine. Kaplunov, however, claimed SBU officers posing as police abducted him on Aug. 23, held him in a secret location, and pressured him to corroborate the agency’s version of events.

According to Kaplunov’s lawyer, two HUR officers were seriously injured during the shootout that erupted when SBU officers attempted to seize Kaplunov at his Kyiv apartment on Sept. 1. The lawyer also alleged that the SBU conducted a nighttime search of the apartment without a court warrant or access for legal counsel. After negotiations, the SBU released Kaplunov without filing charges, a step that appears to contravene Ukrainian law requiring detention to be followed by formal charges within 24 hours and a court appearance within three days.

Political analyst Volodymyr Fesenko told the Kyiv Independent that the incident shows the conflict between the agencies has “gotten out of control.” Members of parliament noted violations by both sides, emphasizing that the use of firearms in a densely populated residential area is “inherently unacceptable.”

The rivalry dates back to the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, including the 2022 killing of negotiator Denys Kireev by SBU officers, an episode the SBU linked to alleged leaks to Russia, while HUR officials denied any espionage. Recent commentary suggests the September shootout may also have been intended to undermine HUR chief Kyrylo Budanov, now the president’s chief of staff, though other observers argue the incident reflects broader competition rather than a targeted political attack.

Critics have pointed to the leadership of acting SBU chief Oleksandr Poklad as a factor in the agencies’ contentious behavior, citing allegations of extralegal methods and involvement in high-profile cases such as the 2025 investigation of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau. Legal experts and anti-corruption watchdogs described Kaplunov’s detention as “clearly unlawful” based on video evidence.

The episode adds to a series of controversies involving Ukraine’s security services, including recent charges against a HUR officer and a former SBU agent in connection with a separate assassination attempt abroad. Both agencies continue to play a central role in Ukraine’s defense, but the September incident underscores growing concerns over inter-agency coordination and adherence to legal procedures.