The investigation of the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) in the case of the murder of intelligence officer Denis Kireev, who was shot dead in the center of Kyiv in March 2022, established a “circle of persons involved in the commission of the crime.” At the same time, no suspicion has yet been announced.
The wife of the ex-banker Kireev, Irina, in a commentary to the UP stated that she was not satisfied with the work of the investigation. She categorically denied the accusation of the SBU regarding her husband’s alleged work for Russia, noting that Kireev was very patriotic.
Kireev participated in Russian-Ukrainian negotiations in late February and was killed in Kyiv in early March under unclear circumstances. Subsequently, the head of the GUR, Kirill Budanov, said that Kireev was an employee of the GUR, whom the SBU officers killed in the service car, and the body was thrown into the street.
A year ago, in the center of Kyiv, on the way to the second round of negotiations, representatives of state bodies killed a member of the negotiating group. And I don’t understand why a year later the investigation has not yet been completed and these criminals have not been punished. I do not understand this not only as a wife, but also as a citizen of Ukraine. He had a favorite phrase – “Where he was born, there he was needed.” I have never known a more patriotic person in my life. As a result, we have what we have. Not only do I not believe that he worked for Russia, I know that this is not so. By 200 percent. And I have logical explanations why they (representatives of the SBU – ed.) are saying this. Otherwise, how can you justify the murder in the middle of Kyiv? – quotes the wife of Kireev UP.
Budanov’s comments
On January 22, Budanov commented on the scandalous article about the murder of Kireev. In a conversation with Radio Liberty, he stated that Kireev was a staff member of the GUR. Budanov has personally known Kireev since 2009 and does not believe that Kireev could work for Russia.
Budanov instructed Kireev to enter the negotiating group with Russia in Minsk in order to drag out the negotiations and gain time. Kireev personally knew two members of the Russian negotiating team.
On the day of the murder, Kireev, with two guards, was driving to their central office at the invitation of the SBU. After that, he had to immediately go to negotiations with Russia as part of a group. 200 meters from the SBU, Kireev’s car was stopped by Alfa fighters and employees of the SBU Counterintelligence Department and transferred to a minibus.
Kireev told his guards: “These are SBU officers, they want to ask me something. The car with Kireev did not leave for the SBU. A few blocks from the building, his dead body was thrown out of an SBU car.”
Regarding this murder, Budanov had a personal conversation with the then head of the SBU, Ivan Bakanov. According to Budanov, this was their last conversation. Bakanov “couldn’t explain anything.”
Budanov “knows very well the people who executed Kireev.”
The matter is much deeper than the failure of communication between law enforcement agencies,” the head of the GUR explained.
Budanov believes that the later statement by the SBU that they de liquidated the Russian agent during the arrest is an attempt by the killers to defend themselves.
“Personal opinion” Budanov about the reasons for the murder of Kireev, literally:
The one who deliberately did this had the goal of preventing us from interfering in someone else’s game and dragging out this process in order to allow our Armed Forces, let’s say, to take certain actions to repulse the enemy. There was a certain number of people who did not really want Ukraine to win. If you remember these events, then the situation was close to critical.
The murder of Kireev is being investigated by the DBR. Much of what he knows, Budanov cannot tell.
Source: Racurs
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.