A top Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) official was shot dead in Kyiv on Thursday morning, in what Ukrainian officials told CNN was an apparent ‘targeted assassination’. The brazen daytime assassination in the capital of Ukraine set off a rapid investigation by several law enforcement agencies.
The officer was shot and murdered outside an apartment complex in Kyiv, said an SBU spokesman who interviewed with CNN. Although the agency confirmed that there is an ongoing investigation, the officer’s identity has not yet been released, awaiting further investigations. Ukrainian police and intelligence services are now working together to identify and arrest the shooter, CNN reported.
Attack Caught on Surveillance Video
Local CCTV footage nearby circulated widely on local Telegram channels and examined by CNN appears to capture the chilling moment of the murder. While CNN cannot independently verify the clip, the background in the video is consistent with official images released by Kyiv Police.
In the audio-free video, a man is captured exiting a residential apartment building with bags in his hands and walking towards a vehicle parked outside. A hooded attacker leaps out of nowhere and seems to shoot the man point-blank.
Once the victim has fallen, the gunman makes a few more shots before escaping on foot, and a witness can be seen fleeing in terror.
The Kyiv Police subsequently confirmed that the officer had passed away at the scene due to injuries inflicted from gunshots. They have initiated a rigorous manhunt to find the suspect and uncover the motive for the murder.
Greater Shadow War Context
The SBU, Central Ukraine’s security agency, has led a number of high-risk operations against Russian targets. CNN has previously reported on the agency’s ‘Operation Spiderweb’, a daring drone attack that targeted Russian military airbases deep inside Russia, destroying and damaging strategic assets such as bombers and surveillance aircraft inflicting a significant blow to Moscow’s air power.
CNN also cited the SBU as allegedly killing Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, one of Russia’s senior commanders accused of using chemical weapons.
While Kyiv officials have not officially attributed Thursday’s attack to Russia or Russian intelligence agencies, the incident is the latest to fuel mounting concerns over the increasing shadow war between Russian and Ukrainian agents.
