Gun battle breaks out in Kyiv between two branches of Ukraine's own security services

A gun battle broke out between two of Ukraine's security services early this morning in Kyiv, officials have revealed. The shootout took place during an investigation into an alleged Russian terrorist plot against a Russian opposition figure living in the Ukrainian capital. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said this afternoon that a 'group of individuals carried out an attack' against their officers, 'tried to hinder the investigation and blocked the passage of law enforcement officers with their cars'.In response, SBU officers fought back with guns, the agency said, adding that some of their attackers were injured. But upon their detention, the SBU realised that their attackers belonged to 'one of the units of the Defence Forces of Ukraine'.Presidential Adviser Dmytro Lytvyn later revealed the unit was part of Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR). Footage taken from Kyiv and shared on social media showed several masked and armed men standing off against each other in the dead of night. In a clip taken from a nearby tower block, several rapid shots could be heard ringing out in the urban area. The shootout took place during an investigation into an alleged Russian terrorist plot against a Russian opposition figure living in the Ukrainian capital A photo taken following the incident appeared to show at least two men on the floor with paramedics tending to themArmed men were seen charging ahead under a street light, though it's not clear whether they belonged to the SBU or HUR. The area was cordoned off as investigators arrived at the scene of the confrontation, images show. A photo taken following the incident appeared to show at least two men on the floor with paramedics tending to them. A source told the Kyiv Independent that the target of the alleged Russian plot was Stepan Kaplunov, deputy commander of the Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC) – a unit which fights alongside Ukraine against Putin's forces. The RVC said in a Telegram post on Monday that Kaplunov was 'abducted by unknown individuals in the courtyard of his own home' a few days prior.Mr Lytvyn, the presidential adviser, said that President Volodymyr Zelensky had 'lashed out' at the heads of both agencies and ordered them to tell the public what had happened.Meanwhile, Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Zelensky's presidential office, called for a 'thorough and impartial investigation' into the incident. Incidents between the HUR and SBU are rare but have happened in the past. In a clip taken from a nearby tower block, several rapid shots could be heard ringing out in the urban area The area was cordoned off following the shootoutThe Kyiv Independent reported that in March 2022, a month after Russia began its invasion of Ukraine, the body of banker Denys Kireyev was tossed from a van in central Kyiv with a gunshot to the head.He had been working for the HUR, and was involved in peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow in 2022. But he was accused of being a double agent working for Russia.A year later, Budanov – who was head of the HUR at the time – denied the banker was working for Russia and publicly accused the SBU of killing him. He said: 'I share the opinion and believe the facts that Mr Kireyev was killed in the SBU car when they conducted an operation against this person.'Zelensky's presidential office later admitted that Kireyev's death was 'connected with the poor coordination of the Ukrainian special services at the beginning of the war'.The shootout comes as Russian drones tore into central Kyiv this morning, wounding nine people and damaging residential and university buildings on the seventh day of nearly round-the-clock attacks that have upended daily life in the city.Moscow's new air campaign against the Ukrainian capital and surrounding region has killed dozens of civilians and disrupted logistics as Kyiv struggles to shoot down the jet-powered drones that have swarmed the area in waves.Wednesday's attack on a downtown university took place while students were in class, forcing some 160 to seek shelter, Zelensky said. Investigators arrived at the scene of the confrontation to look into what happened Armed men were seen swarming the urban area following the early morning shootout The mounting attacks come as Ukraine braces for a new season of Russian strikes on energy infrastructure, amid a critical shortage of US-designed missile interceptors needed to down Moscow's ballistic missiles.Earlier on Wednesday, Russia struck power facilities in the southern Odesa region with missiles and drones, authorities said, knocking out power to more than 350,000 homes.Russian President Vladimir Putin said late on Tuesday he had ordered his forces to prepare the new campaign of 'massive' strikes.'Unfortunately, there has been far too little response from the world and its most influential leaders to this latest Russian escalation of strikes,' Zelensky wrote on X.Two people were also killed and eight wounded in Russian strikes on the southeastern city of Dnipro, the regional governor said, where food warehouses and educational buildings were damaged.Loud explosions thundered through central Kyiv on Wednesday morning as air defences targeted incoming drones.While launched in small numbers, the drones have sparked frequent air raid alerts that have snarled public transportation and forced lawmakers underground.Parts of the city's Soviet-era metro system are suspended during alerts, making residents such as 27-year-old Maksym walk, scramble for taxis or rely on electric scooters to get to work. A fire at warehouse stores after a Russian air attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, September 2, 2026 Workers look at a drone crater as the vehicles burn in front of warehouses, following a Russian air attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026'We need to find a solution,' he told Reuters amid the cacophony of morning traffic. 'The sooner, the better.'The alerts interrupted parliament twice on Wednesday, prompting lawmakers to test a new digital voting system from underneath the legislature, according to opposition deputy Yaroslav Zhelezniak, who posted footage of the platform.Earlier this week, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said his city's defense council had appealed to the government to ease the wartime curfew and other traffic restrictions during alerts.