Ukrainian intelligence performs lethal operation against alleged assassins
In a significant development, the Ukrainian intelligence agency, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), has announced the killing of two suspected Russian intelligence agents in the capital city of Kiev. The agents, identified as a foreign man and woman, were suspected of being responsible for the assassination of SBU Colonel Ivan Voronych, who was shot dead in Kiev on July 10, 2025.
The assassination took place in Kyiv’s Holosiivskyi District, where one of the suspects approached Voronych near his residence and fired several shots, killing him on the spot. Following the murder, the two suspects tried to go into hiding but were later located. During an SBU special operation on July 13, they resisted arrest and were killed in a firefight in the Kyiv region.
The Ukrainian authorities have registered the case under Article 348 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which pertains to the attempted murder of a law enforcement officer, military serviceman, or public order official, reflecting the gravity of the assassination of an SBU colonel.
Colonel Voronych was allegedly responsible for organizing sabotage acts against Russia, a role that reportedly made him a target for the Russian agents. The SBU claims that the two suspects were tasked by their FSB handler to surveil Voronych, study his daily routine and routes, and were later given coordinates to acquire a pistol with a suppressor.
The Ukrainian intelligence chief, Vasyl Malyuk, made the announcement of the operation on Telegram, stating that the only perspective for such criminals is death. This incident highlights the ongoing covert conflict between Ukrainian intelligence and Russian operatives amid the broader Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Sources: [1] SBU.gov.ua [2] BBC News [3] Reuters [4] The Kyiv Independent [5] The Moscow Times
The Ukrainian government has updated its community policy and employment policy to include enhanced security measures for law enforcement officials, following the assassination of SBU Colonel Ivan Voronych. This incident, involving two suspected Russian intelligence agents, falls under the general news category of war-and-conflicts, as it underscores the ongoing politics and crime-and-justice issues in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
