Deputy commander of Russian Volunteer Corps describes detention in secret prison, where he was threatened with "disappearing forever"

What Happened

Stepan Kaplunov, Deputy Commander for Combat Operations of the Russian Volunteer Corps, reported that he was abducted by Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) officers on 23 August and held in a secret prison for nine days. Kaplunov stated that he was subjected to psychological pressure and threats of being killed, which coerced him into falsely confessing to maintaining links with the Russian FSB and implicating his commander, Dmytro Ivanov. Kaplunov was released on 1 September following a reported confrontation in Kyiv's Dniprovskyi District between the SSU and the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU), which allegedly resulted in injuries to three DIU officers.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The incident highlights internal friction and operational competition between Ukrainian security and intelligence agencies. The public allegations of extrajudicial detention and coerced confessions involving a prominent volunteer unit fighting for Ukraine raise concerns regarding inter-agency coordination and the rule of law within the Ukrainian security apparatus during the ongoing war.

Watch For

Monitor further investigations by the State Bureau of Investigation into the reported shootout between the SSU and DIU. Additionally, watch for any official statements from the Zelenskyy administration regarding the alleged internal conflict between the SSU and DIU leadership.