The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has provided clarification regarding an incident involving former Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi. According to the SBU, its personnel inadvertently entered a concealed command post belonging to Zaluzhnyi during an unrelated criminal investigation into organized crime.
The SBU stated that it was conducting investigative actions at multiple locations as part of its efforts against organized crime. One of these locations was identified as a recently established backup command post for Zaluzhnyi.
Despite the entry, the SBU emphasized that no searches or investigative actions were conducted at this specific address. The agency noted that both Vasyl Maliuk, the head of the SBU, and Zaluzhnyi communicated directly about the situation, which was subsequently clarified.
“At no point did any searches or investigative actions occur at this address,” the SBU stated.
In a related development, the Associated Press reported an interview with the former commander, who described the incident as a threat. Zaluzhnyi recounted that in 2022, SBU agents attempted to search his command post, prompting him to contact Andrii Yermak, then the head of the President’s Office, and Maliuk to express his concerns.
Zaluzhnyi served as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine until his dismissal in February 2024. Following his removal, he was appointed as Ukraine’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom in May 2024.
The SBU has clarified an incident involving former military commander Valerii Zaluzhnyi, stating that their personnel entered his command post during an unrelated investigation. The agency confirmed that no searches were conducted and that the situation was promptly addressed with Zaluzhnyi.