As stated, the cause of the shooting that occurred Wednesday morning between the SBU and Ukrainian military intelligence officers (GUR) was the “abduction” of S. Kaplunov.
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S. Kaplunov, serving in the Russian Volunteer Corps since early 2023, was initially an instructor, then deputy for combat operations of the corps, and since then directly led combat actions.
In an interview with the “New Voice” portal, the soldier who disappeared 10 days ago said that on August 23, near the house where he lives, he was attacked by unknown persons who identified themselves as officers, knocked him to the ground, and handcuffed him.
“I roughly understand how investigation actions and detentions happen – a person is immediately charged under certain articles. But I was simply shoved into a black BMW, that is, roughly speaking, it was a pure abduction. They did not present any documents, did not state any charges, put me in a black car, and drove off,” said S. Kaplunov.
According to the fighter, he was later transferred twice to other vehicles: first to a minibus, then to another car.
“After that, with handcuffs on my hands and my eyes taped shut with adhesive tape, as I understand it, I was taken to some, most likely, secret facility or, you could say, a secret prison, where I was locked in a cell, handcuffed and chained. My eyes were covered the entire time,” the Russian Volunteer Corps soldier recounted.
Although the men initially identified themselves as officers and referred to themselves as “state security officers” when communicating among themselves, he later realized that they were from the SBU.
S. Kaplunov said that he was intensively interrogated for the first two days, but by the third day, the conversations had practically stopped.
“As I understand it, the likely goal was to discredit the special unit ‘Timur,’ including our leader Timur himself. I was accused of maintaining contacts with FSB representatives and [that] later I passed these contacts to my direct superior Dmitry Ivanov.
I was not subjected to physical pressure, except for the abduction at the very beginning. However, statements were made such as that one could completely disappear. That is, some hints about ‘digging a hole.’ We all understand what is being talked about,” he said.
“He said: ‘Get out’”
In a statement released Thursday, the SBU indicated that upon discovering connections with the FSB, the suspect, whose name was not directly mentioned, but “New Voice” journalists, judging from the video and context, identified as S. Kaplunov – admitted his guilt.
The Ukrainian Security Service added that corresponding information was allegedly found on his phone, for which the fighter was subjected to a preventive measure.
“Finding myself in such an unenviable position, yes, I fully agreed with their version that I maintained contact with the FSB and [that] later I passed it to my direct superior Dmitry. Although that was not true at all. I acted this way because of my situation and psychological pressure,” admitted S. Kaplunov.
According to the fighter, after the interrogation ended, he spent about 5 days in the cell, and then was transferred to another place – for another four days.
Asked how it was finally decided to release him, the deputy head of the Russian Volunteer Corps said that after nine days he was told – “Get out.”
“Look. Everything that happened in the outside world, of course, [was unknown to me] – I was there without communication devices, without any communication. Maximally isolated. That means I cannot say anything about everything that happened in the outside world, what the connections between services were, the communication. Just after nine days, they told me: ‘Get out.’
I was transferred again to a car, or maybe two. Then I was taken, roughly speaking, to the same place from where I was abducted. But before that, they did not warn that they would conduct a search in my apartment,” recalled S. Kaplunov.
When he arrived at the apartment with SBU officers and an investigator, there was already security there.
“In other words, our unit ensured the protection of the residence in case there would be any [incidents] during the search, for example, that no one would bring in or plant anything, and so on. In other words, to make sure everything went as transparently as possible.
After that, I was in the apartment the whole time. Let’s say, about those high-profile events that everyone could watch on Telegram channels and news sites, I heard from the window. I heard that some shooting was going on, gunshots. Specifically, what happened, I cannot know,” said the fighter.
According to S. Kaplunov, the most likely version of these strange events is that the Ukrainian Security Service wanted to discredit the “Timur” unit and its leader, who works together with Ukrainian military intelligence.
“There is such a version. Most likely. I think the roots lie in the historical rivalry between these two services. Misunderstandings and, perhaps, exactly such incidents that happen – in this case, against our service.
S. Kaplunov confirmed the information published Wednesday by the news portal “Ukrainska Pravda” that three GUR soldiers were injured during the shooting, one of them in serious condition.
The Russian Volunteer Corps fighter considers such clashes “illegal actions.”
“I think that in principle this is unacceptable in a rule-of-law state, and during a large-scale war, I don’t know, it is three times unacceptable. I think such incidents only help the enemy. Only the opponents, that is the FSB, the enemy’s special services, can rejoice,” he explained.
Asked if he has concerns about further actions related to the “Timur” unit, to which the Russian Volunteer Corps belongs, S. Kaplunov expressed confidence in his comrades.
“Usually [in protection] there are only some of the most important unit members. That means, if you can say so, some supervision is carried out for some of the most important leaders. Basically, anything can happen, as you can see yourselves. But I think that after this incident, certain things will change,” he concluded.
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