Security Service of Ukraine issues official statement on assassination of defector ex-MP Illia Kyva

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has commented on the assassination of former Verkhovna Rada MP Illia Kyva, who defected to Russia and fled before the start of the invasion of Ukraine last February. A press statement issued by the SBU said:

“The Security Service of Ukraine carries out many successful special operations, including those that bring deserved punishment to all war criminals and enemies of Ukraine. As the head of the SBU Vasyl Malyuk said, death is the only prospect we can promise the occupiers and their accomplices.

Vasyl Malyuk also reiterated that the enemies of Ukraine will definitely answer for the atrocities they committed both before God and before the Ukrainian people — both legally and morally. The situation with the liquidation of Illia Kyva only proves this. All the details of the SBU's special operations will be revealed to the public after our imminent victory.”

The website of the Ukrainian Internet radio station Hromadske earlier released a photo of Illia Kyva’s body, allegedly from a source within the SBU. It also published a video, apparently taken from a position near a Moscow Region hotel where the former MP was staying, set up by whoever conducted the operation.