"They wanted to snatch him": DIU tried to take Kaplunov away after he started giving testimony

"They wanted to snatch him": DIU tried to take Kaplunov away after he started giving testimony

The conflict between DIU and SSU employees in Kyiv, according to a source in the security forces, may have arisen after the deputy commander of the Russian Volunteer Corps for combat operations, Stepan Kaplunov, began cooperating with the investigation. This concerns, in particular, his possible testimony in several high-profile cases, including the case of the explosion in Monaco.

The «Informator» reports this with reference to a source in the security forces.

According to the source, Kaplunov was detained about a week before the shooting in Rusanivka. During investigative actions, a search was conducted at his residence. The interlocutor claims that after his detention, Kaplunov began giving testimony, and DIU employees may have tried to «retrieve» him.

«They wanted to get him back because he started giving testimony. And he was better informed about what was happening in intelligence than others», the source said.

According to him, it was the DIU employees who opened fire first during the shooting in Rusanivka. The source claims that the investigation has video footage confirming this.

The interlocutor also stated that the search at Kaplunov’s was conducted as part of investigative actions and in coordination with DIU internal security officers.

According to the source, the leadership allegedly ordered the «Tymur» special unit, which arrived at the scene of the investigative actions, not to intervene. However, the fighters, he said, did not comply with this order.

«Someone does not want an investigation», the interlocutor believes.

The Russian Volunteer Corps is part of the «Tymur» special unit of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence. Stepan Kaplunov is the deputy commander of the corps for combat operations.

The shootout between SSU and DIU employees occurred on September 2 in Kyiv’s Dnipro district during investigative actions. Following the incident, the State Bureau of Investigations opened a criminal proceeding, and some participants were served with notices of suspicion. The SSU officially linked the investigative actions to a case involving preparations for an assassination attempt.

Kaplunov publicly denied cooperation with Russian special services and claimed that his confessions were given under pressure.

The article also mentions an explosion that occurred on June 29, 2026, near a residential building in Monaco. Ukrainian businessman Vadym Yermolaiev and members of his family were seriously injured. Interpol issued a wanted notice for Ukrainian citizen Anastasiia Berezovska as a suspect in planting the explosive device.

According to Yermolaiev, certain GUR employees may have been involved in organizing the attempt on his life.