Zelensky plans dismissals after Kyiv agency shootout

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said deputy heads of security agencies will be dismissed after a shootout between rival agencies in Kyiv left several officers injured.

The gunfight between the military intelligence agency, known as the GUR, and the State Security Service, known as the SBU, happened in the capital on Wednesday.

Zelensky said late on Thursday that both agencies had acted in an “absolutely unacceptable” way and must be held accountable. He said one official from each agency had been named as a suspect and that an investigation was continuing.

Zelensky also said the heads of both agencies would be assessed, while deputy heads who were responsible for the situation would be dismissed.

Several Ukrainian media outlets reported that a GUR serviceman named as Sergiy Ivanov, who was detained after the shooting, was freed by a Kyiv court on Friday and ordered to report on his whereabouts. An SBU officer is also due to appear in court.

Ukrainian media reported that the dispute may be linked to the SBU's detention of a deputy commander of the Russian Volunteer Corps, a battalion of anti-Kremlin Russians fighting for Kyiv under GUR command.

The SBU said it was carrying out counter-sabotage work to prevent a murder ordered by Russia and said it had uncovered contacts between the commander and Russian special services. The GUR said there was a targeted disinformation campaign against it.

Both agencies have central roles in Kyiv's war effort during Russia's invasion of Ukraine.