Two Ukrainian Intelligence Agencies Exchange Fire, Zelenskyy Dismisses Senior Officer

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed extreme outrage and condemned the actions of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the Defence Intelligence Directorate (GUR) following a firefight in Kyiv. The clash between the two intelligence agencies reportedly resulted in three officers being wounded, according to reports by The Guardian.

The SBU serves as Ukraine’s internal security service, comparable to MI5 or the FBI, while the GUR is its military intelligence partner, conducting military activities and special operations. Reports indicate that the exchange of fire began when the SBU detained a leader of an anti-Kremlin Russian unit that was fighting for Ukraine under the supervision of the GUR.

Upon learning of the chaos, Zelenskyy immediately summoned prosecutors and investigators and dismissed a senior SBU officer. “Here, in Ukraine, shooting is only permitted against the Russian invaders to defend Ukraine,” Zelenskyy stated on Wednesday (2/9/2026).

“Our country will not consider any other shooting as permissible for anyone,” Zelenskyy emphasised.

Following media reports of the shooting, the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine issued a statement at 12:10 pm, announcing a new criminal investigation. According to the office, SBU officers had received orders to prevent an unspecified “terrorist act” by the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB).