KIEV, April 25 (RIA Novosti) – Dozens of Russian special service agents have been detained in Ukraine, Sergei Pashinsky, the acting head of the Ukrainian presidential administration, said Friday.
“We have detained dozens of agents of Russian special services and some of them have already testified,” Pashinsky said at a press briefing, adding that protesters in the east of the country are using Russian weapons.
Kiev authorities have accused Moscow many times of being involved in protests in eastern and southeastern Ukraine, where pro-federalization supporters have been rallying against the junta since last month.
Russia has repeatedly denied claims of its involvement in events in eastern Ukraine, with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov saying that such a move would contradict Russia’s interests.
Federalization supporters in Kharkiv, Donetsk, Gorlovka, Slaviansk and Kramatorsk have refused to recognize the legitimacy of the current Ukrainian government. In response, Ukraine’s interim authorities have launched a special operation to crack down on the protests. Moscow has denounced Kiev’s actions.
