Shooting involving Ukraine's military intelligence and SBU: Court releases GUR officer into personal recognizance

This is being reported by "Radio Liberty" correspondents from the courtroom.

The prosecutor asked the court to impose pretrial detention on Ivanov. However, the court opted for a personal guarantee instead.

The court hearing was held behind closed doors. Sergei Ivanov himself has not publicly commented on the case.

The GUR officer is accused of attempting to take the life of a law enforcement officer (Article 348 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). The article provides for 9 to 15 years of imprisonment or life imprisonment.

As a reminder, on September 1, the Regional Security Directorate (GUR) stated that Stepan Kaplunov, the deputy commander of the combat operations unit, had been abducted several days earlier.

On the morning of September 2, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) stated that they had managed to prevent a terrorist attack that the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) was preparing “against one of the leaders of the Russian opposition who had arrived in Ukraine for Independence Day.”

The SBU later stated that during the search, “a group of individuals attacked the SBU’s operational-investigative team.” The security service added that the “Alpha” special forces unit was deployed “to stop the attack,” and that weapons were also used.

The SBU also responded to an “unacceptable” incident that occurred in Kyiv between SBU and GUR personnel. According to the agency, during an operation to prevent a murder—which had been planned for Independence Day at the behest of the Russian FSB—a conflict arose that led to an exchange of gunfire.

Zelenskyy responded to the shootout between the SBU and the Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) by dismissing the head of the SBU’s Department for the Protection of State Secrets.