Security Service of Ukraine releases video in which deputy commander of Russian Volunteer Corps admits links to FSB; lawyer claims he was under duress

Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) has released a video in which Stepan Kaplunov, Deputy Commander of the Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC) of the International Legion of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU), admits that he was contacted by people from the Russian intelligence services. Kaplunov's lawyer said the video was recorded under pressure and threats. 

Source: Security Service of Ukraine; Kaplunov's lawyer Taras Borovskyi in comments to Ukrainska Pravda

Quote from the SSU: "Contacts between the deputy commander of the Russian Volunteer Corps of the International Legion of the DIU and Russian intelligence services were uncovered. The individual in question was supposed to prepare an assassination attempt against one of the leaders of the Russian opposition movement, who was due to arrive in Ukraine at the time.

According to the available evidence, during communication with representatives of the Russian intelligence services, this serviceman was given orders to eliminate other Ukrainian defence forces personnel in exchange for financial compensation."

Details: The Security Service said it had been working to prevent a murder commissioned by the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) and planned for Ukraine's Independence Day on 24 August.

The agency stressed that Kaplunov had admitted to having contact with the Russian FSB and provided the service with relevant information: "This enabled the Ukrainian intelligence service to establish the entire chain of individuals involved in the planned crime."

The agency released a video in which Kaplunov says that he was contacted by a person from Russia who was acting on behalf of the FSB. He was allegedly being recruited to assassinate Ukrainian defence forces personnel and other individuals.

Meanwhile, the RVC deputy commander's lawyer told Ukrainska Pravda that the video had been recorded under pressure and threats of murder.

Quote from the lawyer: "This video was recorded while he was being held captive, under pressure, torture and threats of murder. It was recorded in order to provide moral justification for the unlawful abduction of a person.

It was released precisely now in an attempt to somehow whitewash the SSU's State Counterintelligence Department following yesterday's shooting of unarmed people by its personnel."

Details: Meanwhile, the SSU said it had documented correspondence on his phone with an FSB representative. However, in view of Kaplunov's "admission of contacts with the Russian FSB and cooperation with the investigation", he was released.

Commenting on the shooting between the SSU and DIU, the SSU said that "this definitely should not have happened".

Quote from the SSU: "The State Bureau of Investigation is currently investigating this incident. The Security Service is providing maximum assistance to the investigation to ensure that all circumstances of the incident are established objectively and impartially."

Background:

• On 1 September, the Russian Volunteer Corps said that Kaplunov had been abducted by unknown individuals in the courtyard of his home.
• On the morning of 2 September, reports spread on social media about a shootout said to be between DIU and the SSU in Kyiv's Dniprovskyi District, and that it was somehow connected to Kaplunov's disappearance. As of 10:00 on the same day, Ukrainska Pravda reported that the standoff was still ongoing.
• Later, officers from the State Bureau of Investigation and the head of the SSU's Special Operations Centre Alpha arrived at the scene. According to Ukrainska Pravda sources, three DIU officers were injured in the confrontation.
• Meanwhile, the SSU said that together with DIU, it had foiled a terrorist attack against a leader of a Russian opposition political national movement who had arrived in Ukraine.
• On 3 September, Stepan Kaplunov described in detail his abduction by SSU officers to a secret prison and explained why he had been forced to admit to having links with the FSB under pressure and threats.

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