President Zelenskyy Condemns Shootout Between Ukrainian Intelligence Services

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has sharply criticized a shootout between two of Ukraine's primary intelligence services in Kyiv, calling the situation absolutely scandalous and shameful. The incident involved the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), which handles internal security, and the Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR), which manages military intelligence and special operations. Zelenskyy stated that shooting is only permissible against Russian occupiers and announced that the General Prosecutor will investigate the event, which has already led to the firing of a senior SBU officer.

Reports indicate the gunfight may have been linked to the detention of a leader of the Russian Volunteer Corps, an anti Kremlin unit that fights for Ukraine under the supervision of the HUR. The SBU initially claimed it had prevented a Moscow directed attack on a Russian opposition figure, later stating its officers were attacked by unknowns who turned out to be army members. The HUR has not officially commented on the incident. Reports on casualties vary, with some sources stating three HUR officers were injured and one may have died.

While center left sources emphasize the internal instability and the president's fury, center sources focus more on the specific operational details regarding the arrest of the Russian Volunteer Corps leader. In a separate development, Zelenskyy thanked Germany and Friedrich Merz for additional air defense missiles during a phone call regarding sanctions against Russia.