RismadarVoice Reporters
September 4, 2026
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has condemned a shootout involving two of the country’s security agencies in Kyiv, describing the incident as “absolutely unacceptable” and warning that senior officials could be removed.
The gun battle, which occurred in broad daylight on Wednesday, involved officers from Ukraine’s military intelligence agency, GUR, and the State Security Service, SBU. Several officers were reportedly injured in the confrontation.
Zelensky, in a statement on Thursday night, said both agencies would be held accountable for their actions.
“Both agencies must be held accountable. Both acted in an absolutely unacceptable way,” the president said.
He disclosed that two security officials, one from each agency, had been identified as suspects while investigations into the incident continued.
Zelensky said determining the facts surrounding the confrontation was essential to preventing similar incidents in the future.
“It is important that the truth be established and that situations like this never happen again,” he said.
The Ukrainian president added that the leadership of both agencies would be reviewed, while deputy heads found responsible for the incident would be dismissed.
The confrontation reportedly occurred amid an internal dispute linked to the SBU’s detention of a deputy commander of the Russian Volunteer Corps, a unit made up largely of Russians opposed to the Kremlin who are fighting alongside Ukrainian forces.
The Russian Volunteer Corps operates under the GUR, according to Ukrainian media reports.
The SBU said its officers were carrying out what it described as “counter-sabotage work” aimed at preventing a planned assassination allegedly ordered by Russia.
The agency claimed it had uncovered communications between the detained commander and Russian security services.
The GUR, however, rejected the allegations and accused its rival agency of being the target of a “targeted disinformation campaign.”
