The SBU has identified the number calling the separatists in Ukraine as having a Russian +7 area code. The person with the Russian number asks Shooter to contact him. Later in the conversation, Shooter reports “fighting off the first (Ukrainian) attack” and shooting “some significant (highly-ranked Ukrainian) people.”

Below is a video of the recording, which was posted by EuroMaidan PR’s YouTube account, with English subtitles:

The coordinator in Russia, named Alexander, asks Shooter to go on air and speak with Russian television channel “Life News.” Alexander tells Shooter not to identify himself and suggests taking his “assistant with a Ukrainian accent.” He asks Shooter to demand federalization, gubernatorial elections no earlier than the May 25 Ukrainian elections, and to emphasize the demand that the Verkhovna Rada should not be allowed to accept external financial support without the support from 2/3 of oblasts.

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A man named Konstantin Valerievich later calls Shooter from the same Russian number. He asks: “Have you reported to Aksenov?”  Shooter responds “no,” and Konstantin Valerievich requests that he report to Aksenov. 

The conversation was in reference to an ambush the Russians organized against a Ukrainian force led by the SBU’s anti-terrorism unit on the outskirts of Slovyansk on April 13. SBU Captain Hennadiy Bilichenko was killed in the firefight and nine others were seriously injured, said Interior Minister Arsen Avakov. In the same conversation, the Russian operatives in Slovyansk asked for anti-tank weapons. The other caller responded that he will send a platoon from Luhansk who have combat experience with the anti-armor weapons. 

Shooter asks Konstantin Valerievich to identify who exactly was injured by their separatist group earlier.

“I can only provide official information: it was the chief of Ukraine’s Anti-terrorism Center.” 

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Avakov said, he [the chief] was injured. So you assaulted the right target,” Konstantin Valerievich responds. 

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