SBU liquidated FSB killers: how the hunt for the colonel's killers in Kyiv became a symbol of a new phase of the war of special services

Shots rang out in the center of Kyiv, which became a challenge for the entire country. Newssky.com.ua publishes an exclusive analysis of the special operation that changed the rules of the game for Russian agents: how the SBU discovered and eliminated the killers, who was behind the order, why Russian special services have intensified the hunt for Ukrainian officers right now, and how this story will affect the future of state security.

Murder of a SBU Colonel: details of the crime that shook the capital

On July 10, 2025, Kyiv woke up to news that instantly became a top topic in all media outlets: Colonel of the Security Service of Ukraine Ivan Voronych was shot dead in the Holosiivskyi district of the capital. According to sources, the attacker approached the officer at around 9 am and fired five aimed shots from a pistol with a silencer. The murder took place in front of witnesses, which only emphasized the audacity of the criminals.[3][6][7][8][11][12]

The first hours after the crime were a real test for the security forces: the city was blocked off, dozens of operatives, forensic experts, and dog handlers worked at the scene. It turned out that the killers had prepared carefully: they studied the victim's daily routine, travel routes, and used surveillance and conspiracy techniques. The weapons were hidden in a special cache, the coordinates of which were given to them by a curator from the FSB[4][5][6][7][8][10][11].

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SBU liquidates hitmen who killed Security Service colonel in Kyiv

The special operation to find the killers of the Ukrainian defender was personally led by the head of the SBU, Lieutenant General Vasyl Malyuk. pic.twitter.com/fYzHqAYr8w

- СБ України (@ServiceSsu) July 13, 2025

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Hunting for killers: how the SBU exposed the FSB's agent network

The investigation was personally led by the head of the SBU, Lieutenant General Vasyl Malyuk. According to him, the FSB intelligence and combat group was routed to Ukraine in advance and operated undercover. The colonel's murder was the culmination of a complex operation that Russian special services had been preparing for several months.[1][2][4][5][6][7][8][10][11][13][16]

The SBU and the Criminal Investigation Department of the National Police conducted large-scale covert investigative and counterintelligence activities: they tracked the suspects' movements, analyzed their contacts, listened to telephone conversations, and studied surveillance camera videos. Three days after the crime, they managed to track down the killers - they turned out to be a man and a woman, who acted on the clear instructions of the FSB supervisor[1][2][4][5][6][7][8][10][11][13][16].

After completing the task, the killers tried to "lay low" in the Kyiv region, but were found and blocked in a hiding place. During the attempted detention, they opened fire on the special forces, in response they were eliminated on the spot[1][2][4][5][6][7][8][10][11][13][16].

Ivan Voronych: biography of the officer who became the Kremlin's target

SBU Colonel Ivan Voronych is an officer with over 25 years of experience, serving in the Alpha Special Operations Center. He was a participant in many high-profile operations, including in Eastern Ukraine, and led groups involved in the elimination of pro-Russian militants, as well as in special operations on enemy territory. According to the New York Times, it was Voronych's unit that played a key role in the raids on the Kursk region of the Russian Federation in 2024 and the elimination of Motorola, one of the most famous militant leaders.[6][11][12]

Colleagues describe him as a top-notch professional, a man with an impeccable reputation who never compromised his conscience. His death was a blow to the entire intelligence service and a symbol of how dangerous the work of Ukrainian officers has become in modern conditions.

Russian trail: how the FSB hunts Ukrainian defenders

In the last two years, Russian special services have sharply intensified attempts to physically eliminate Ukrainian officers, commanders, and intelligence officers. According to the SBU, in 2024–2025 alone, more than 15 attempts on law enforcement officers were prevented, some of which involved the use of professional killers recruited in third countries or among criminals. The FSB uses complex schemes: training agents in "sleep" mode, creating fake identities, using crypto-protected communication channels, and weapons caches[2][6][7][8][10][11][13][16].

The murder of Voronych is further evidence that Russia views the physical elimination of Ukrainian commanders as part of a hybrid war. The goal is not only to eliminate a specific officer, but also to intimidate others, destabilize the work of special services, and sow panic in society.

How a special operation works: from reconnaissance to liquidation

The operation to find and eliminate the killers lasted less than three days. During this time, the SBU used all possible resources: from the agent network to modern data analysis technologies, artificial intelligence for facial recognition, and satellite monitoring. Every step of the suspects was under control: their hiding place was calculated thanks to the interception of messages and the analysis of bank card movements[1][2][4][5][6][7][8][10][11][13][16].

During the arrest, the killers offered armed resistance, which confirms their training and dedication to the task. The SBU and the police acted as professionally as possible, preventing casualties among civilians and employees.

The reaction of society and the authorities: lessons for the entire country

The news of the liquidation of the killers caused a wave of support among Ukrainians. The head of the SBU, Vasyl Malyuk, emphasized: “The only prospect for the enemy on the territory of Ukraine is death!”[1][2][4][5][6][7][8][10][11][13][16]. The president, the government, and volunteer organizations expressed gratitude to the special services for their efficiency and professionalism.

At the same time, the incident became an occasion for a discussion about the safety of officers, the need to strengthen counterintelligence, introduce new protection technologies, and train personnel in the rules of conspiracy and self-defense.

International context: how the world reacts to attacks by Russian intelligence services

The murder of the SBU colonel and the liquidation of the hitmen received wide coverage in the Western media. BBC, Reuters, The New York Times noted that this is not the first time that Russia has resorted to political assassinations outside its own territory. Experts compare the situation with FSB operations in Great Britain, Germany, and Turkey, where attempts on opposition figures, intelligence officers, and journalists were also recorded[11][12].

The European Union, the United States, and NATO condemned the actions of Russian special services, called for tougher sanctions, expanded cooperation in the security sector, intelligence exchange, and support for Ukrainian special services with modern technologies.

Psychology and motivation of killers: who goes to serve the enemy

According to the investigation, the perpetrators of the murder were a man and a woman who had undergone special training, received instructions on surveillance, conspiracy, and the use of weapons. Their FSB supervisor provided them with funding, false documents, and organized caches of weapons and communication equipment.[1][2][4][5][6][7][8][10][11][13][16]

Psychologists note that the motives of such people are different - from ideological loyalty to the Russian Federation to financial gain or blackmail. Often, recruited individuals are not aware of all the consequences, believing that they are “simply following orders.” However, even one such operation can lead to large-scale consequences for the country's security.

How the SBU counters Russian terror: statistics, methods, results

SBU Head Vasyl Malyuk emphasized: effective counteraction to Russian special services is a key area of the agency's activity. The SBU acts proactively and prevents 85% of crimes that the enemy tries to commit on the territory of Ukraine[1][2][4][5][6][7][8][10][11][13][16].

Since the beginning of the full-scale war, the SBU has exposed over 400 spy networks, detained over 700 people involved in espionage, sabotage, and preparation of terrorist attacks. The agency actively cooperates with international partners, implements the latest technologies, and conducts personnel training.

Challenges of the future: how to protect Ukraine from new attacks

Experts predict that in the coming years, Russia will only intensify its attempts to physically eliminate Ukrainian commanders, intelligence officers, and politicians. Effective countermeasures require not only technology, but also the unity of society, trust in the special services, support from international partners, constant training, and exchange of experience.

Information security plays an important role: timely informing citizens, explaining risks, and combating fake news and propaganda. This is the only way to maintain the resilience of society in the face of hybrid warfare.

Conclusions: Heroism, Responsibility, and New Safety Standards

The story of Colonel Voronych and the liquidation of his killers is not just about a special operation, but about the price Ukraine pays for freedom and independence. It is a reminder that the war continues not only on the front, but also in the rear, in the cities, in the hearts of people.

The SBU has shown: the enemy will not escape responsibility, even if he hides behind other people's faces and fake documents. Anyone who sides with the aggressor should know that punishment is inevitable. And society must be ready for new challenges, support its defenders, and not lose faith in victory.

Sources

[1] Vechirnii Kyiv, [2] Censor.Net, [3] Novinarnya, [4] Espreso, [5] TSN, [6] hromadske, [7] Fokus, [8] LB.ua, [10] Glavkom, [11] BBC, [12] BBC (biography), [13] Censor.Net (Russian), [14] Ukrainska Pravda, [15] Ukrainska Pravda, [16] Lviv Portal, [17] YouTube, [18] YouTube, [19] KyivVlada, [20] BLIK.ua