The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) has released a video in which Stepan Kaplunov, Deputy Commander of the Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC), part of the International Legion within Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU), admits that he was contacted by people from the Russian intelligence services. Kaplunov’s lawyer said the video was recorded under duress.
Source: Security Service of Ukraine; Kaplunov’s lawyer, Taras Borovskyi, in comments to Ukrainska Pravda
Quote from the SSU: “Contact has been uncovered between the deputy commander of the Russian Volunteer Corps of DIU’s International Legion and Russian intelligence services. The individual in question was supposed to plan an assassination attempt against a leader of a Russian opposition movement who was due to arrive in Ukraine at the time.
According to the available evidence, in the course of his communication with representatives of the Russian intelligence services, the serviceman was also ordered to eliminate other Ukrainian defence forces personnel in exchange for financial compensation.”
Details: The SSU said it had been working to prevent a killing commissioned by Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) to be carried out on Ukraine’s Independence Day, 24 August.
The SSU said Kaplunov has admitted to having contact with the FSB and had provided it with relevant information: “This has enabled the Ukrainian intelligence service to establish the entire chain of individuals involved in the plot.”
The SSU has released a video in which Kaplunov says that he was contacted by a person from Russia who was acting on behalf of the FSB. They attempted to recruit him to assassinate Ukrainian defence forces personnel and other individuals.
However, Kaplunov’s lawyer, Taras Borovskyi, told Ukrainska Pravda that the video had been recorded under duress and threats that he would be killed.
Quote from Borovskyi: “This video was recorded while he was being held captive, under pressure, torture and threats of murder. It was recorded to provide moral justification for the unlawful abduction of a person.
It has been released now in an attempt to somehow whitewash the SSU’s State Counterintelligence Department following yesterday’s shooting of unarmed people by its personnel.”
Details: The SSU said it had documented correspondence with an FSB representative on Kaplunov’s phone. However, in view of Kaplunov’s “admission of contact with the FSB and cooperation with the investigation”, he was released.
Commenting on the shootout between the SSU and DIU, the SSU said that “this definitely should not have happened”.
Quote from the SSU: “The State Bureau of Investigation is currently looking into the incident. The Security Service is providing maximum assistance to the investigation to ensure that all the circumstances of the incident are established objectively and impartially.”
Background:
On 1 September, the Russian Volunteer Corps said that Kaplunov had been abducted by unknown individuals in the courtyard of the building where he was living.
Later, officers from the State Bureau of Investigation and the head of the SSU’s Special Operations Centre Alpha arrived at the scene. According to Ukrainska Pravda sources, three DIU officers were injured in the confrontation.
On 3 September, Stepan Kaplunov gave a detailed description of his abduction by SSU officers to a secret prison and explained why he had been forced to admit to having links with the FSB under duress.
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