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Russia blames Kiev for inaction, provocation

Xinhua, August 12, 2016 Adjust font size:

Russian Foreign Ministry on Thursday criticized the Ukrainian government for its inaction and provocative moves.

"Russia is seriously concerned about the inaction of Kiev authorities in the face of growing militant rhetoric and violent actions taken and planned by the so-called volunteer battalions and other extremists," the ministry said in a statement.

The ministry called on Ukrainian government to stop provocations and fully fulfil its commitments to the Minsk agreements aiming at peaceful settlement of Ukraine crisis.

Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said Wednesday it had dismantled a spy ring in Crimea organized by the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, which was plotting acts of terror and sabotage on critical and life-supporting elements of the peninsula's infrastructure.

The Foreign Ministry added that such acts were made to undermine the preparation for local elections and the political stability.

The incidents showed the unwillingness of Kiev to peacefully settle the conflicts through compromises, and its attempt to resort to force or even terrorist means, the ministry said.

Noting the growth of anti-Russian sentiment inside Ukraine stirred by its authorities, the ministry urged Kiev to avoid taking "dangerous steps that could have the most negative consequences."

Russia would do its utmost to protect Crimea's stability and security, while Kiev and its foreign supporters would suffer the consequences if any damage were inflicted on the Russian side, the ministry said.

A court in Crimea later in the day announced that a Ukrainian suspect in the terrorist plot, Yevgeny Panov, was arrested for two months.

Tensions between Russia and Ukraine have been escalating as Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday accused Kiev of plotting terrorist attacks in Crimea.

Immediately rejecting Russia's allegation, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko ordered Thursday to put all military units near the border with Crimea and in Donbass on high combat readiness.

The autonomous republic of Crimea was absorbed into Russia in 2014 following a referendum, which was recognized by Moscow but rejected by Kiev. Enditem