Shootout between SBU and GUR in Kyiv: two participants served with suspicion notices
The State Bureau of Investigation reported suspicion against two participants in an armed conflict between SBU officers and servicemen of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense, which occurred on September 1–2 in a residential district of Kyiv. The suspects are an SBU officer and a GUR serviceman.
The State Bureau of Investigation reported this on September 3.
The SBU officer was served with a suspicion notice under Part 2 of Article 365 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — abuse of authority or official powers by a law enforcement officer, accompanied by violence or the use of special means.
The GUR serviceman of the Ministry of Defense was notified of suspicion under Article 348 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — encroachment on the life of a law enforcement officer.
The SBI clarified that the suspicions were announced regarding the facts of using firearms during the conflict.
What is the SBI investigating
The pre-trial investigation began after a highly public armed incident between representatives of two Ukrainian special services that occurred in Kyiv.
Information was entered into the Unified Register of Pre-trial Investigations under three articles of the Criminal Code:
- Part 2 of Article 365 — abuse of authority or official powers by a law enforcement officer;
- Part 3 of Article 345 — threat or violence against a law enforcement officer;
- Article 348 — encroachment on the life of a law enforcement officer.
Investigators are establishing all the circumstances of the conflict, including the events that preceded it. The SBI has not yet reported on the completion of the investigation and has not ruled out further procedural decisions.
The Prosecutor General's Office is providing procedural supervision in the criminal proceedings.
The shootout sparked a conflict between the special services
The armed incident occurred during a confrontation between representatives of the SBU and the GUR in a residential district of the capital. The conflict drew wide public attention after information appeared about the use of weapons by law enforcement officers.
After the incident, representatives of the SBU and the GUR gave their own versions of events. President Volodymyr Zelensky called the situation between separate units of the special services "absolutely shameful" and demanded to sort out the circumstances of the conflict.
The recent SBI statement is the first official confirmation of involving the shootout participants in the procedural status of suspects. Notably, suspicion notices were served to representatives of both sides of the conflict.
