Ukrainian security agents probed for speaking Russian during Kiev gunfight

Multiple investigator audio records feature officials discussing graft schemes in a language that is supposed to be banned from the public sphere Ukrainian security operatives involved in a scandalous gunfight between two rival factions of Vladimir Zelensky's government in Kiev last week are facing a fresh probe – this time for speaking Russian during the clash.

The September 2 gang-warfare-style clash between the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the Ukrainian Military Intelligence Directorate (HUR), centred on an attempt to arrest white supremacist Stepan Kaplunov, a senior officer in the so-called Russian Volunteer Corps (RDK), a paramilitary unit operating under the HUR and thought to be in control of a number of Ukrainian scam-call centers.

Ukraine’s language ombudswoman, Elena Ivanovskaya, said Wednesday she had requested personal information on all those involved and demanded the two services provide an explanation as to why their officials “used a non-state language while performing their official duties.” The data was needed “to clarify the circumstances and make a balanced decision on response measures,” she said in a statement published by Ukrainian media.

Read more Agents of chaos: Zelensky’s security services trade accusations after Kiev gunfights Crackdown on Russian Ukrainian is mandatory in the country's public sphere, including government, education, media and customer service.

Violations can result in administrative fines of up to $270.

Read more Ukraine to ban Russian literature – culture minister Ivanovskaya has suggested increasing the fines tenfold and has demanded Russian-speaking children and parents use Ukrainian during breaks and in conversations with teachers.

According to the ombudswoman, both instances fall under the “public sphere” definition and the use of Russian in such cases could be punishable by fines.

Kiev announced plans in February to take all Russian and Russian-language books out of circulation in Ukraine.

Ukraine expanded 2016 import restrictions to outright ban any commercial Russian and Belarusian book entries in 2023.

Kiev is also seeking to block access to Russian music on international streaming platforms inside Ukraine and prevent performers from the neighboring country from appearing in domestic popularity charts, according to Ukrainian Sanctions Policy Commissioner Vladislav Vlasiuk.

More than 100 Russian performers have been blacklisted in Ukraine and the list will be expanded, according to the official.

Read more Ukraine conflict is ‘ethnic cleansing’ of Russian speakers – Candace Owens Moscow has repeatedly denounced such measures as “Russophobic censorship,” warning that attempts to “cancel” Russian culture will ultimately fail.