{"id":36869,"date":"2026-09-03T15:28:11","date_gmt":"2026-09-03T15:28:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ukraine\/36869\/"},"modified":"2026-09-03T15:28:11","modified_gmt":"2026-09-03T15:28:11","slug":"ukraines-sbu-accuses-russian-volunteer-corps-commander-of-plotting-to-kill-opposition-figure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ukraine\/36869\/","title":{"rendered":"Ukraine\u2019s SBU Accuses Russian Volunteer Corps Commander of Plotting to Kill Opposition Figure"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ukraine\u2019s SBU security service alleged<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n

In a statement, the SBU, without identifying the commander by name, claimed<\/a> that the \u201cindividual\u201d was in contact with Russia\u2019s FSB security service and tasked with \u201cpreparing the assassination\u201d of an opposition figure who was expected to arrive in Ukraine on Aug. 24, when the country celebrates its national day of independence.<\/p>\n

The Ukrainian agency said the accused commander gave a confession and provided information that helped it identify other people said to have been involved in the assassination plot. It did not identify the targeted Russian opposition figure.<\/p>\n

While the SBU did not explicitly name the Russian Volunteer Corps commander, a confession video attached to its statement appears to show\u00a0Stepan Kaplunov,\u00a0deputy commander of combat operations for the unit.<\/p>\n

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\t\t\t\tUkraine Claims It Foiled FSB Plot Against Anti-Kremlin Figure Amid Shootout in Kyiv
\n\t\t\tRead more
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Kaplunov, who Ukrainian media previously reported was the target of the assassination plot, told<\/a> Ukraine\u2019s Radio NV that SBU officers \u201ckidnapped\u201d him\u00a0and forced him to deliver a false confession under duress.<\/p>\n

Denying any links to the FSB, Kaplunov accused the SBU of attempting to fabricate charges against senior officials within Ukraine\u2019s HUR military intelligence agency.<\/p>\n

In its own statement, the HUR, which directly oversees the Russian Volunteer Corps, warned<\/a> that a \u201ctargeted disinformation campaign\u201d was being carried out against it. It did not specify who was carrying out that alleged campaign.<\/p>\n

The apparent infighting follows a\u00a0shootout<\/a> between SBU and HUR officers in Kyiv earlier this week.<\/p>\n

Ukrainian law enforcement authorities launched a criminal investigation into the armed clash, while President Volodymyr Zelensky has demanded a public explanation for the \u201cabsolutely disgraceful situation\u201d from both security agencies.<\/p>\n

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