Ukraine Claims It Foiled FSB Plot Against Anti-Kremlin Figure Amid Shootout in Kyiv

Sep. 2, 2026 A Ukrainian SBU officer. @SBUkr / Telegram Ukrainian law enforcement authorities said Wednesday that they foiled an alleged plot by Russia’s FSB security service to assassinate an anti-Kremlin “opposition leader” in the capital Kyiv. According to Ukrainian media reports, the target of the assassination attempt was Stepan Kaplunov, deputy commander of combat operations for the Russian Volunteer Corps, a unit of far-right Russians fighting alongside Ukrainian forces. On Tuesday, the Russian Volunteer Corps said Kaplunov had been abducted outside his home days earlier. In a statement, Ukraine’s SBU security service said “a group of individuals carried out an armed attack” against its investigators during a search. The agency’s special forces returned fire to subdue the attackers, detaining the assailants and wounding several. The SBU said that the assailants belong to “one of the units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.” It added that prosecutors have launched an investigation into the attempted murder of law enforcement officials. Ukraine’s SBU did not identify the Russian opposition figure who was said to have been targeted by the FSB. That statement came after reports and videos of an alleged shootout in Kyiv between SBU officers and members of Ukraine’s HUR military intelligence agency. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was said to have reprimanded the leadership of both the SBU and HUR for initially keeping silent about the apparent clash between their agencies. According to Zelensky’s communications adviser, Dmytro Litvin, the president demanded that the two agencies inform the public about what happened. Russia’s FSB has not responded to Ukraine’s allegations. Read more about: Ukraine , FSB , Kyiv Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more FSB Claims It Thwarted Ukrainian Plot to Hijack Military Jet The law enforcement agency accused Kyiv of trying to "recruit Russian pilots" by promising them $3 million and citizenship in an unspecified Western country... 1 Min read Russian Army Employee Arrested for Allegedly Passing Secrets to Kyiv The woman, whose name and job title were not disclosed, was accused of gathering “information on arsenals, bases and depots.” 1 Min read Russia’s FSB Says Ex-Israeli Soldier Caught Trying to Join Ukrainian Army The man received a “formal warning” that his actions were illegal and was subsequently deported to Israel. 1 Min read Refugees Flee Fresh Fighting Around Kyiv Dozens of people fled a surge in fighting in a flashpoint area where Ukraine said it had pushed back Russian forces around Kyiv.