# Zelenskyy and Ukraine’s rival spy services

Source URL: https://polimeme.com/discussion/thread_96de376cc0b04e9f
First seen: 2026-09-15 06:40 UTC · Latest activity: 2026-09-15 13:38 UTC
4 core pieces, 0 related pieces

## Summary

Tensions between the SBU and HUR have sharpened as both services compete for influence and presidential attention in wartime Ukraine. What is at stake is whether Zelenskyy can keep civilian control over agencies that increasingly act like rival power centers.

## Core contention

Whether the SBU-HUR rivalry marks dangerous politicization under Zelenskyy or acceptable wartime intelligence competition against Russia.

## Argument map

1. Rivalry between the SBU and HUR points to politicized management from the presidency, which weakens civilian oversight and encourages agencies to fight for influence. — Krzysztof Nieczypor (OSW Centre for Eastern Studies)
2. HUR’s covert retaliation against Russian operatives is overdue justice, and aggressive intelligence work should be rewarded rather than restrained. — LB.ua
3. The fight over loyalty and access to Zelenskyy risks turning security services into personal power bases instead of coordinated state tools. — Paulina Siegień (Krytyka Polityczna)

## Fault line

The split is over whether competition between the services is a wartime asset or a sign of damaged civilian control.

## New element

Recent items add a sharper account of open rivalry between SBU and HUR and a separate claim that HUR’s retaliation against Russian operatives was justified.

## European relevance

Ukraine’s security governance affects European war support, intelligence cooperation, and standards for civilian control in a frontline state.

## Distinct theses in this debate

- The clash reflects deeper politicization and rivalry inside Ukraine's security services under Zelenskyy
- The SBU-HUR clash shows escalating rivalry, weak civilian control, and Zelensky's politicized management of Ukraine's security services
- Ukrainian military intelligence has avenged Max Shapoval's murder, and covert retaliation against Russian operatives is justified and overdue.
- Poland must take responsibility for anti-Ukrainian sentiment online and in public life, because propaganda exploits it and help for Ukraine remains insufficiently protected

## Pieces

- 2026-09-15 13:38 UTC — [Mój kolega z Kijowa mówi o wdzięczności wobec Polski. A mi jest wstyd](https://www.tygodnikpowszechny.pl/moj-kolega-z-kijowa-mowi-o-wdziecznosci-wobec-polski-mi-jest-wstyd) — Wojciech Bonowicz (Tygodnik Powszechny) [pl]
- 2026-09-08 15:00 UTC — [„Dwóch amatorów walczy o uwagę Zełenskiego”: rośnie napięcie między SBU i HUR](https://krytykapolityczna.pl/swiat/dwoch-amatorow-walczy-o-uwage-zelenskiego-rosnie-napiecie-miedzy-sbu-i-hur) — Paulina Siegień (Krytyka Polityczna) [pl]
- 2026-09-08 12:00 UTC — [SBU versus HUR: conflict between Ukraine’s security services](https://www.osw.waw.pl/en/publikacje/analyses/2026-09-08/sbu-versus-hur-conflict-between-ukraines-security-services) — Krzysztof Nieczypor (OSW Centre for Eastern Studies) [en]
- 2026-09-09 12:51 UTC — [9 років для помсти. Воєнна розвідка України помстилася за вбивство Максима Шаповала?](https://lb.ua/blog/artem_shevchenko/764868_9_rokiv_pomsti_voienna_rozvidka.html) — LB.ua [uk]