Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) announced on Sunday that they have killed two Russian agents suspected of assassinating a Ukrainian intelligence officer in Kyiv earlier in the week. This operation follows the fatal shooting of SBU officer Ivan Voronych, who was gunned down on the morning of March 7, 2024. Authorities believe that the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) orchestrated the attack.
According to the SBU, the suspects, a man and a woman, attempted to evade capture after the assassination. However, SBU and National Police officers located their position in the Kyiv region, leading to their eventual confrontation. The head of the SBU, Vasyl Malyuk, detailed the operation in a statement, asserting that “covert investigative and active counterintelligence measures” led to the discovery of the suspects’ hideout.
Malyuk remarked, “During their arrest, they began to resist, and there was an exchange of fire, and the scoundrels were eliminated.” This statement was made in a video reportedly filmed near the bodies of the suspects. He further emphasized the dire consequences for those who threaten Ukraine, stating, “The only prospect for the enemy on the territory of Ukraine is death!”
The SBU revealed that the agents had been tasked with surveilling Voronych to determine his daily routine. They received instructions that led them to a safe house, where a silencer-equipped pistol was prepared for their use. The SBU plays a crucial role in Ukraine’s national security, focusing on domestic safety and conducting sabotage operations against Russian forces. Notably, the agency was also behind a significant drone strike on Russian airfields last month.
The assassination of Voronych occurs amid an escalation of Russian military actions in Ukraine, which has seen a surge in drone attacks. Just this week, the conflict marked the largest and second-largest drone assaults since the war began four years ago, highlighting the ongoing volatility of the situation.
The killing of a high-profile intelligence officer underscores the dangerous landscape of espionage and counter-espionage operations in the region. As Ukraine continues to respond to threats from Russia, the SBU remains pivotal in safeguarding the nation’s interests and countering external aggression.