Ukrainian Intelligence Agencies Engage in Allied Fire Amidst War, Power Struggle Surfaces

[Financial News] Special forces under Ukraine's two major intelligence agencies, the State Security Service (SBU) and the Ministry of Defense's Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR), engaged in a shootout in the capital, Kyiv.
The conflict between intelligence agencies has been publicly revealed as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is facing criticism both at home and abroad for the prolonged war with Russia and the failure to hold presidential elections, loses control of state affairs.
According to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) and others on the 2nd (local time), special forces from the SBU and HUR engaged in a shootout at an apartment complex in downtown Kieu from the night of the 1st to the early morning of the 2nd. At least three HUR members were injured in the process. Videos posted by residents on social media clearly show bloodstains outside the apartment building where the shootout took place.
The clash between the two agencies began when the SBU recently detained Stepan Kalpunov, a Russian national and officer of the Russian Volunteers Corps who had been assisting Ukraine in a unit under the HUR, for about a week. On the 1st, the SBU attempted to search an apartment in downtown Kyiv rented by the HUR. A shootout broke out when the HUR blocked the search of the apartment. Although Kalpunov was released following the shootout, it remains unclear exactly what charges the SBU had detained him on.



President Zelenskyy described the exchange of fire between the SBU and HUR as "shameful" and stated that "the only targets to shoot at in Ukraine are the Russian occupation forces." While he emphasizes a thorough investigation into the truth, analysts suggest that President Zelenskyy's leadership is facing another crisis.
President Zelenskyy's official five-year term ended in May 2024, but he is delaying the presidential election through a state of wartime martial law. Recent polls show that former Defense Minister Mihailo Fedorov, who resigned due to discord with the president, and Valery Zaluzny, the Ukrainian ambassador to the UK (and former commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian military), are showing higher approval ratings than President Zelenskyy.
The SBU and HUR are Ukraine's representative intelligence agencies. The SBU, established in 1991 following Ukraine's independence, performs traditional intelligence agency roles such as arresting spies and preventing terrorism, with a focus on domestic counterintelligence. It has a personnel strength of approximately 29,000.
On the other hand, HUR, established in 1992, has primarily dealt with overseas and military intelligence operations. It has also carried out various secret operations, such as assassinating Russian military officers in southeastern Ukraine occupied by Russia following the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. It is a much more veiled organization than the SBU, and specific details regarding its personnel are unknown.



If the SBU plays the role of the FBI in the United States, then the HUR is essentially performing the function of the CIA.
However, following the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, the SBU actively carried out drone attacks and assassination operations targeting mainland Russia, and the HUR also conducted special operations both domestically and abroad, resulting in an excessive overlap of their operational areas. It is also assessed that the rivalry has intensified as competition for the initiative in covert operations, the allocation of Western intelligence resources, and military achievements has deepened.
Kirillo Budanou, the former director who led the HUR from August 2020 to January 2026, became President Zelenskyy's chief of staff this January. Although Lieutenant General Oleh Ivashchenko subsequently became the new head of the HUR, Budanou continues to exert strong influence over the organization. Consequently, it is suggested that Budanou’s close aide to the President has led to growing dissatisfaction among the SBU and deepened the conflict with the HUR.


Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. AP News. The shootout between the SBU and HUR is expected to place a significant political burden on President Zelenskyy. According to a survey conducted last month by the Ukrainian polling firm Socis, President Zelenskyy trailed significantly in hypothetical head-to-head matchups in the presidential runoff against both Ambassador Zaluzhny and former Minister Fedorov.
President Zelenskyy and Ambassador Zaluzhny recorded approval ratings of 33.8% and 66.2%, respectively, in a hypothetical head-to-head matchup. In a contest between President Zelenskyy and former Minister Fedorov, approval ratings were 36.2% and 63.8%, respectively.
Former Minister Fedorov is particularly popular among the younger generation in Ukraine. Born in 1991, he became the youngest Minister of Defense in Ukrainian history this past January. He emerged as a "national hero" by leading advanced tactics, such as drones, to counter Russia, which holds a military advantage.

[email protected] Lee Seok-woo, International Specialist Reporter