Russia Blames Ukraine for ‘Fatal Attack’ in Crimea

The Federal Security Service of Russia (FSB) asserts it prevented terrorist acts in the occupied Crimea, allegedly prepared by Ukrainian Defense Intelligence. According to the FSB website, the attacks might be ‘directed against critical social infrastructure’ in order to ‘destabilize the social and political situation before and during the federal and regional elections in the peninsula.’

The FSB claims that ‘its serviceman died’ during an exchange of fire with a subversive group on August 7 around the city of Armiansk.

A number of explosives, ammunition and weapons were allegedly found. According to Russian intelligence, this type of weapons is known to be used by the special units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The FSB also told that they destroyed an agent network of Ukrainian Defense Intelligence. They detained several citizens of Ukraine and Russia who ‘are giving testimony now.’

The FSB also accuses Ukraine of two more attempts of subversive attacks in Crimea on 8 August which were ‘stopped by the special forces of Russia.’ Moreover, they claim these attempts were "reinforced by mass shelling from Ukrainian territory which caused the death of a Russian soldier."

Russian authorities indicated that criminal investigations had been opened and additional security measures had been taken in public and recreational places and to protect critical infrastructure. They also introduced a ‘strengthened border guard regime.’

During recent days, the Russian military launched severe restrictions on the administrative border between Crimea and Ukraine’s mainland.

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) denies all accusations, the adviser to SBU Chief Yuriy Tandit is cited Interfax-Ukraine. "Ukraine doesn’t use force to occupy or return its territory, and will never do it," he stressed. "As Ukrainian citizens live in Crimea, we have no right to do harm to them," he explained.

Source: Ukrayinska Pravda