Ukrainian SBU Officer Assassinated in Kyiv Shooting
A Ukrainian intelligence officer has been shot dead in broad daylight on the streets of Kyiv in what authorities describe as an apparent assassination, sparking a major investigation and manhunt.
A spokesperson for Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) confirmed to CNN that one of its officers was killed in the capital on Tuesday, though officials have so far withheld the victim’s identity.
The shocking incident was captured on silent CCTV footage circulating on local Telegram channels. While CNN has not independently verified the footage, the location matches official photographs released by Kyiv police from the scene.
In the grainy clip, a man is seen leaving an apartment building, carrying a couple of bags, and walking towards a parked vehicle. A masked figure approaches him, apparently holding a firearm. The gunman appears to fire, and the victim collapses to the ground. A bystander is seen fleeing the area as the attacker fires additional shots before running from the scene.
Police reports indicate the victim was found dead at the scene with a gunshot wound. Kyiv police announced a manhunt is underway to identify and apprehend the perpetrator.
“The police, in cooperation with other law enforcement agencies, are investigating all circumstances surrounding this brazen crime,” Kyiv police said in a statement.
The SBU, Ukraine’s primary intelligence and counterintelligence agency, has played a pivotal role in Ukraine’s defense efforts during its war against Russia. It has been linked to several high-profile operations, including daring strikes deep inside Russian territory.
Among these was “Operation Spiderweb,” Ukraine’s audacious drone attack on Russian airfields last month. In that operation, SBU operatives reportedly managed to smuggle dozens of drones close to military airbases inside Russia, executing surprise assaults that destroyed or damaged numerous military aircraft, including strategic bombers and rare surveillance planes. The attack dealt a significant blow to Moscow’s air capabilities and was seen as a major intelligence coup for Kyiv.
The SBU has also been tied to covert operations targeting Russian military leaders and figures connected to the Kremlin’s war effort. Ukrainian sources previously told CNN that SBU operatives were behind the assassination of Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, who was wanted by Ukraine for alleged involvement in chemical weapons programs.
Though authorities have not suggested any immediate link between this latest killing and specific operations, the assassination underscores the growing risks faced by Ukraine’s security and intelligence personnel as the war with Russia intensifies.
Security analysts note that both Ukrainian and Russian operatives have escalated targeted attacks and covert missions throughout the conflict. Kyiv has faced multiple acts of sabotage and assassination attempts, often attributed to Russian agents seeking to destabilize Ukraine’s leadership and security apparatus.
“This is a very high-stakes environment,” said a European security official speaking on condition of anonymity. “Both sides are carrying out operations that go beyond the battlefield, including targeted killings meant to disrupt intelligence networks.”
As the investigation continues, Ukrainian authorities remain tight-lipped about the motive or potential suspects behind the killing. For now, the assassination adds another grim chapter to the ongoing shadow war being waged alongside the broader conflict in Ukraine.
Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact Kyiv police as the manhunt intensifies.
