Russia prevents terror attacks in Crimea: Russian security service

Russia has prevented a series of terrorist attacks in Crimea planned by the Ukraine military intelligence service, the Russian Federal Security Bureau (FSB) said Wednesday.

One officer died on the night between Aug. 6 and Aug. 7 during a clash with saboteurs and another serviceman was killed on Aug. 8, as Russian forces prevented two attempts of the special units of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry to penetrate Crimea from Ukraine which was covered by heavy shelling from the Ukrainian side, the FSB said in a statement.

Some 20 improvised explosive devices equivalent to more than 40 kg of TNT, as well as different ammunition, including mines, grenades and special weapons used by Ukrainian special forces were found at the site of clashes, said the statement.

An Ukrainian military intelligence officer and a group of Russian and Ukrainian citizens who were suspected to be Ukrainian military intelligence agents and assisted in preparing of terrorist acts were detained and interrogated, the statement added.

Crimea, which was previously part of Ukraine, was incorporated into Russia in 2014 following a referendum, which was recognized by Moscow but rejected by Ukraine and Western powers.

"The purpose of sabotage and terrorist attacks was to destabilize the social and political situation in the region during the preparation and conduct of elections by federal and regional authorities," said the FSB.

Russia has adopted additional security measures to protect the Crimean people and critical infrastructure and has toughened border checks, said the statement.

The claims made by the FSB were immediately rejected by the Ukrainian side.

Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council Secretary Oleksandr Turchynov said the claims were "hysterical and false," and the Ukrainian Defense Ministry termed the allegations as Moscow's attempt to justify its redeployment and actions in the region, media reports said. Endi