Ukrainian spy agencies clash in Kyiv shootout, Zelenskyy calls it 'disgraceful'

A shootout between Ukraine's two top intelligence agencies, the HUR and SBU, wounded three security officers in Kyiv on Wednesday, prompting President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to call the incident "absolutely disgraceful." The gunfight erupted after SBU officers detained Stepan Kaplunov, a deputy commander of the Russian Volunteer Corps fighting for Ukraine, during an operation to prevent an alleged Russian terrorist act. HUR special unit commander "Timur" accused the SBU of kidnapping Kaplunov and opening fire first, while the SBU said its officers were attacked by armed individuals from a Ukrainian defense unit. Zelenskyy has ordered internal investigations and dismissed SBU official Oleg Khramov, while the incident occurs amid a broader security reshuffle that has seen leadership changes at the SBU, HUR, and military command. Analysts suggest the shakeup reflects efforts to tighten political coordination and follows corruption investigations reaching senior figures around the president.