SBU reveals FSB paid Russian Volunteer Corps commander to assassinate Ukrainians in Kyiv

Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) has revealed new details about a shooting in Kyiv, stating it uncovered contacts between a deputy commander of the Russian Volunteer Corps and Russian special services, who was tasked with assassinating Ukrainian military personnel for money. The SBU reported that the individual, identified in previous reports as Stepan Kaplunov, was also ordered to prepare an assassination attempt against a leader of the Russian opposition movement arriving in Ukraine for Independence Day. The suspect admitted to contacts with Russia's FSB and provided information that helped establish the full chain of those involved in the planned crime. The shooting occurred when SBU officers conducted urgent investigative actions to collect evidence, leading to a conflict situation. Kaplunov's lawyer claims his client was kidnapped on August 23 and that SBU officers opened fire on intelligence personnel at the apartment, while Kaplunov maintains he was detained by unidentified individuals posing as police.