Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) claims to have detained a group of Ukrainian "saboteur-terrorists" in Sevastopol on the contested Crimean Peninsula, the Kommersant newspaper reported on Thursday.
According to the FSB, Ukraine's Defense Ministry planned to "carry out acts of sabotage on the military and public services infrastructure" in the area. Officers reportedly confiscated powerful explosive devices, weapons, ammunition, special communications equipment, and maps and plans of the intended targets from the detained Ukrainians.
The Ukrainian government denies sending saboteurs to Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in March 2014.
An unnamed source with knowledge of the situation reportedly admitted their guilt.
The FSB similarly claimed to have detained Ukrainian saboteurs in August. The two suspects in that case, Ukrainian citizens Yevgeny Panov and Andrei Zakhtei have been placed in pre-trial detention until Dec. 10.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.