There was a skirmish due to unforeseen circumstances with Ukrainian State Security Service (SBU) agents during a special operation by the National Police of Ukraine and Special Weapons and Tactics police (KORD) in an operation to arrest robbers in the village of Kniazhychi in the Kyiv region. During the skirmish five people were killed.

"Kyiv's Criminal investigation department (CID) was attempting to detain a dangerous gang of thieves who systematically robbed houses of Kyiv and Kyiv region resident," MP Anton Gerashchenko said on his Facebook page on Sunday morning.

According to him, a house alarm went off during the raid. State Security Service agents responded.

"At the same time, a tactical team seems to have decided that intelligence officers were in trouble, captured by criminals. They found them and left in a van outside, where SBU detained police intelligence officers ... Further, a skirmish between SBU agents and a tactical team took place. It lasted five minutes. Five law-enforcement officers were killed," Gerashchenko said.

Two employees of State Security Service, two police intelligence officers and a KORD member were killed.

PGO investigators are working on the scene.

The suspects, which were ambushed, escaped in two cars during the shootout, but were later arrested by police investigators. Police officers confiscated firearms. The detainees are suspected of committing robberies and assault.