Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) announced on Sunday that it had killed two suspected agents of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) believed to be responsible for the assassination of one of its own officers in Kyiv. The incident marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, which has entered its fourth year.
On March 14, 2024, SBU officer Ivan Voronych was shot dead in what Ukrainian authorities described as a targeted assassination. Following the incident, the SBU initiated an investigation and identified two suspects: a man and a woman who allegedly attempted to evade capture after the shooting. The SBU stated that its officers, in collaboration with the National Police, managed to locate the suspects in the Kyiv region.
In a statement, SBU chief Vasyl Malyuk highlighted the agency’s efforts in counterintelligence, saying, “As a result of covert investigative and active counterintelligence measures, the enemy’s lair was discovered.” Malyuk described the encounter with the suspects during their arrest, noting that they resisted and engaged in an exchange of fire, ultimately leading to their deaths.
The SBU reported that the two agents had been tasked with monitoring Voronych’s movements to establish his daily routine. This operation culminated in their directive to use a silenced pistol, which awaited them in a safe house. Malyuk reinforced the SBU’s message, declaring, “I want to remind you that the only prospect for the enemy on the territory of Ukraine is death!”
The killing of Voronych occurs amidst a backdrop of intensified Russian military operations, which recently included the largest drone attack of the conflict. The SBU has been instrumental in Ukraine’s security efforts, particularly in executing sabotage operations against Russian targets. Notably, it played a critical role in a daring drone assault on Russian airfields last month.
As the conflict continues to evolve, incidents like these underscore the volatile nature of security operations in Ukraine, where both sides remain locked in a fierce struggle for influence and control.
