CNN
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A Ukrainian security services officer was shot dead in Kiev on Thursday morning. Authorities said CNN was an obvious assassination.
A service spokesman told CNN that an SBU official was killed on Kyiv and an investigation into the assassination is underway. The SBU did not release the officer’s identity, apart from saying that the person is an officer.
Silent CCTV footage showing the attack is said to be shared on local telegram channels. CNN cannot independently verify the footage, but the location matches the official photo of the scene released by Kyiv Police.
This clip shows a man walking out of an apartment building in Kiev during the day. He approaches a masked individual who appears to carry a gun and is seen heading towards a nearby car carrying several bags. The attacker appears to be firing a gun, and the man falls to the ground with his bag. Bystanders can be seen fleeing the scene.
The masked attacker then appears to be firing again before escaping the scene.
Kiev police launched a manhunt and said the assailant was “injured.”
Police said they are investigating the crime in parallel with other law enforcement agencies. It said the victim was found dead at the scene with a gunshot wound.
SBU is Ukraine’s main security service. In particular, he was responsible for Ukraine’s bold drone attacks on Russian airfields last month.
The Ukrainian drone attack, known as “Operation SpiderWeb,” was a great success for Kyiv and a great embarrassment for Moscow.
SBU operatives smuggled dozens of drones deep in Russia and launched them from near military airfields, surprising Moscow.
Dozens of Russian military aircraft, including strategic bombers and rare surveillance aircraft, have been destroyed or damaged.
Ukrainian security sources previously told CNN that the SBU was behind the assassination of Lt. Gen. Igor Kirilov, which Kiev had hoped for on suspicion of using chemical weapons.
