RVC deputy Kaplunov says he admitted to alleged FSB ties under ‘psychological pressure’
Read NV on Google
"In fact, nothing like this happened," Kaplunov said of suspicions of cooperation with the FSB (Photo: Radio NV)
Russian Volunteer Corps deputy commander Stepan Kaplunov told Radio NV he admitted to alleged FSB ties under “psychological pressure” after his detention, which he called an abduction, but now denies any contact with the agency on Sept. 3.
Kaplunov made the statement in an interview with Radio NV on the evening of Sept. 2, before the Security Service of Ukraine said on Sept. 3 that it had uncovered his alleged contacts with Russian intelligence services. According to the SBU, Kaplunov was tasked with preparing an assassination attempt against one of the leaders of a Russian opposition movement who planned to travel to Ukraine for Independence Day.
However, Kaplunov gave a different account in his interview with Radio NV. He said that after being detained near a building in Kyiv on Aug. 23, he was held for nine days at two facilities by SBU representatives who identified themselves as "state security officers."
He said he was interrogated during the first two or three days but was not subjected to physical violence. "I was accused of communicating with FSB representatives and [of] later transferring that communication to my direct superior, Dmytro, commander Dmytro Ivanov. So this is not about WhiteRex (the call sign of Russian Volunteer Corps commander Denis Kapustin)," Kaplunov said.
Kaplunov said that because of his "unenviable situation," he "fully agreed with their version that I had been in contact with the FSB and that I later transferred that contact to my direct commander, Dmytro."
"Although in reality, nothing like that happened. I went along with it because of my situation and under psychological pressure," Kaplunov said.
He claimed that during the interrogations, he heard remarks suggesting that he "could disappear completely."
"There were remarks about 'digging a grave.' We all understand what that means," Kaplunov said.
The SBU, however, alleges that the Russian Volunteer Corps deputy commander was also tasked with killing other members of Ukraine's Defense Forces in exchange for money.
"Preparations for the crime were stopped in time," the SBU said.
The agency said Kaplunov admitted to having contacts with the FSB and that relevant information was also found on his phone. As a result, a "preventive measure" was imposed on him, the SBU said.
The agency also described an "absolutely unacceptable conflict situation that led to a shooting" during investigative actions and the collection of evidence.
Kyiv shooting on Sept. 2
Overnight into Sept. 2 and on the morning of the same day, reports emerged online of a shooting in Kyiv's Berezniaky neighborhood. The Kyiv City State Administration said traffic on Yuriia Shumskoho Street had been blocked. Media reports said a conflict had occurred in Kyiv between employees of the Security Service of Ukraine and Ukraine's Defense Intelligence.
The SBU later said it had thwarted an assassination attempt against one of the leaders of a Russian opposition movement who had arrived in Kyiv for Independence Day.
Earlier, on Sept. 1, Russian Volunteer Corps chief of staff Oleksandr Fortuna said Stepan Kaplunov, the corps' deputy commander for combat operations, had been abducted in Kyiv. It later emerged that the shooting in Kyiv occurred during a search of Kaplunov's apartment.
On Sept. 3, the SBU said Kaplunov had been preparing an assassination attempt against a Russian opposition figure in Ukraine on orders from Russia's FSB.
Kaplunov's lawyer said SBU officers had "abducted" him on Aug. 23 and that the shooting occurred near the building where Kaplunov lived after he was brought there for a search of his apartment. According to the lawyer, his client has since been released. Kaplunov confirmed that he is now "in a reliable, safe place under the protection of our fighters, our special unit."
Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, responded to the shooting involving security personnel by calling for a "thorough and impartial" investigation. He said the State Bureau of Investigation and the Prosecutor General's Office were already investigating the incident.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the incident disgraceful and said the heads of the security services should make personnel decisions regarding those involved in the shooting and that both agencies should conduct internal investigations.
Timur, commander of the Defense Intelligence special unit that includes the Russian Volunteer Corps, told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty that SBU officers had "abducted in broad daylight" a Defense Intelligence combat commander and held him without formally charging him.
The SBU gave a very different account of the events. It said it was conducting urgent investigative actions in a case involving a terrorist attack organized by Russian intelligence services. According to the SBU, a group of people carried out an armed attack on the investigative team, attempted to obstruct the investigation and blocked passage with vehicles.
The military war may be swinging in our favor, but the information war continues.
Just as an army needs soldiers, so does a free society need its journalists to ensure that people have access to honest, trustworthy voices to understand the world around them.
For the past five years, The New Voice of Ukraine has been working tirelessly to push back against Russian narratives and defend democracy. But we cannot do it alone.
Please consider supporting us on Patreon for just $5 a month – your donation does directly to supporting journalists and ensuring that this front of the infowar says solid and defended.
Thank you.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News
