On Cam: Gunman Kills Ukraine Intel Agent in Kyiv; Officials Probe ‘Targeted Assassination’

Last Updated:July 11, 2025, 14:16 IST

According to a spokesperson for the SBU, who spoke to CNN, the officer was fatally shot outside an apartment building in Kyiv.

Authorities in Kyiv have yet to publicly link Thursday’s assassination to Russia.

A high-ranking officer from Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) was shot dead in Kyiv on Thursday morning in what Ukrainian authorities described to CNN as an apparent targeted assassination. The killing, which took place in broad daylight in the capital city, has prompted an urgent investigation by multiple law enforcement agencies.

According to a spokesperson for the SBU, who spoke to CNN, the officer was fatally shot outside an apartment building in Kyiv. The security agency confirmed that an investigation was underway but withheld the officer’s identity pending further inquiries. CNN reported that Ukrainian police and intelligence units are now working jointly to identify and apprehend the perpetrator.

Surveillance footage from a nearby CCTV camera—widely circulated on local Telegram channels and reviewed by CNN—appears to show the chilling moment of the attack. Although CNN has not independently verified the video, the surroundings in the clip match official photographs released by Kyiv Police. In the silent footage, a man exits a residential building carrying bags and walks toward a parked vehicle. Suddenly, a masked gunman approaches and appears to shoot him at close range. After the victim collapses, the attacker fires again before fleeing on foot. A passerby is seen running from the scene in panic.

Kyiv Police have confirmed that the victim died at the scene from gunshot wounds and have launched a manhunt for the assailant. Authorities are currently working to verify the shooter’s identity and motives.

The SBU plays a central role in Ukraine’s national security apparatus and has led several high-profile operations against Russian interests. CNN previously reported that SBU agents were responsible for “Operation Spiderweb," a daring drone strike campaign that targeted Russian military airfields deep inside enemy territory. The operation resulted in the destruction and damage of multiple strategic aircraft, including bombers and surveillance planes—delivering a significant blow to Moscow’s aerial capabilities.

CNN has also reported that the SBU was allegedly behind the assassination of Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, a top Russian military official accused of deploying chemical weapons. The killing of the SBU officer this week raises fresh concerns about the escalating covert warfare between Ukrainian and Russian intelligence operatives.

Authorities in Kyiv have yet to publicly link Thursday’s assassination to Russia or its intelligence agencies, but the incident marks another deadly episode in Ukraine’s ongoing shadow war.

News world On Cam: Gunman Kills Ukraine Intel Agent in Kyiv; Officials Probe ‘Targeted Assassination’