Ukraine’s SBU Accuses Russian Volunteer Corps Commander of Plotting to Kill Opposition Figure
The SBU said the suspect was recruited by Russia’s FSB and obtained a confession video as investigators linked the case to a Kyiv shootout.
- On Thursday, Ukraine's Security Service alleged that Stepan Kaplunov, deputy commander of the Russian Volunteer Corps, was recruited by Russia's Federal Security Service to assassinate an opposition figure on Independence Day.
- A shootout between SBU and Main Intelligence Directorate officers in Kyiv on September 2 escalated tensions between the security agencies, leaving them in public conflict.
- Kaplunov's lawyer, Taras Borovsky, claimed the SBU released the confession video to "whitewash the SBU's reputation" following the shootout, alleging his client was "abducted in gangster fashion" and coerced into the statement.
- President Volodymyr Zelensky demanded a public explanation for the "absolutely disgraceful situation" from both security agencies and launched a criminal investigation into the armed clash.
- While the SBU did not confirm the target, reports from Ukrainian outlets Suspilne and Babel identified the alleged target as Akhmed Zakayev, a former Chechen field commander.
13 Articles
13 Articles
The Deputy Commander of the Russian Volunteer Corps (Rdk), an integrated unit in the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Stepan Kaplunov, would have had contact with the Russian Security Services (FSB) and would have been charged with preparing an attack. This is what the Ukrainian Security Service (Sbu) supports, which has released a new reconstruction of the incident at the origin of the shooting [...] The article Shooting among the secret services in Kie…
Ukraine’s SBU accuses Russian Volunteer Corps deputy commander Stepan Kaplunov of working for the FSB and plotting an Independence Day assassination. He says he was tortured into confessing.
Stepan Kaplunov, the deputy commander of the Russian Volunteer Corps, was in contact with Russian security services and was tasked with preparing an assassination attempt against one of the leaders of Russia’s opposition movement who planned to travel to Ukraine, Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) said.
The SBU has published a video of the recognition of the deputy commander of the "RDK" * Kaplunov* in the work of the FSB: EADaily
EADaily, September 3rd, 2026. The Security Service of Ukraine, after a shootout with GUR employees, published a video with the recognition of the deputy commander of the Russian Volunteer Corps[1] Stepan Kaplunov[2] in his work for the Federal Security Service (FSB) of Russia. The video is posted on the telegram channel of the department.
Ukraine’s SBU Accuses Russian Volunteer Corps Commander of Plotting to Kill Opposition Figure
Ukraine’s SBU security service alleged Thursday that a commander of the Russian Volunteer Corps, a unit of far-right Russians fighting alongside Ukrainian forces, was recruited by Moscow to assassinate a Russian opposition figure.
The Russian oppositionist, who, according to the SBU, was targeted by GUR officers during his visit to Ukraine on Independence Day, is a well-known Chechen separatist, "Akhmed Zakayev, head of the government of Ichkeria in..
The Russian oppositionist, who, according to the SBU, was targeted by GUR officers during his visit to Ukraine on Independence Day, is a well-known Chechen separatist, "Akhmed Zakayev, head of the government of Ichkeria in exile, Ukrainian media...
The media learned the name of the “Russian oppositionist” on whom Kaplunov of the RDC, according to the SBU, was preparing the assassination attempt - Ahmed Zakayev. The special services are silent about this so far.
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