Stepan Kaplunov claims his confession regarding Russian intelligence contacts was coerced under duress following a violent clash between SBU and HUR personnel.
Key facts
- •Stepan Kaplunov claims he was held for nine days in a secret prison starting Aug. 23.
- •The SBU alleges Kaplunov was tasked with assassinating a Russian opposition figure and Ukrainian service members.
- •Three HUR service members were wounded during a shootout with SBU officers.
- •President Zelensky dismissed SBU official Oleh Khramov in response to the incident.
- •Kaplunov has not been formally charged and remains free, according to his legal counsel.
Stepan Kaplunov, deputy commander of the Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC), has retracted claims of working with Russian intelligence, stating his previous admission was made under psychological pressure and threats. The retraction follows a violent confrontation in Kyiv between officers of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and members of Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR) that resulted in three injuries.
Conflicting Accounts of Detention
The SBU stated on Sept. 3 that it had uncovered a plot involving a 'specified person'—later identified as Kaplunov—who allegedly maintained contacts with the FSB to facilitate assassinations. The agency claims Kaplunov admitted to these contacts and provided information leading to other suspects. Conversely, Kaplunov alleges he was abducted by men claiming to be police on Aug. 23 and held in a secret prison for nine days, where he was threatened with death to force a false confession implicating his superiors.
Clash Between Security Agencies
The dispute between the SBU and HUR escalated into a shootout in Kyiv. RVC commander Denis Kapustin stated the conflict began when SBU officers brought Kaplunov to his home for a search, leading to a confrontation with other service members. President Volodymyr Zelensky described the incident as 'disgraceful' and ordered a full investigation. Following the event, Zelensky dismissed Oleh Khramov, the head of the SBU’s department for the protection of state secrets.
Timeline
- Aug. 23Stepan Kaplunov was detained by men identifying themselves as police officers.
- Sept. 1A confrontation occurred between SBU officers and RVC members at Kaplunov's apartment.
- Sept. 3Kaplunov posted a statement on social media denying the SBU's allegations.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Kyiv Independent.
