Ukraine not involved in Moscow attack, says Kyiv military intelligence spokesman
A shooting attack near Moscow prompted Russia's FSB to claim Ukrainian involvement, but Ukraine's military spy agency swiftly refuted this, labeling it as "another lie" from Russian special services. Ukraine denies any role, emphasizing its focus on defending sovereignty from Russian forces and targeting military objectives, not civilians.
- World
- Reuters
- Published Date: 03:23 | 23 March 2024
- Modified Date: 03:23 | 23 March 2024
Ukraine was not involved in Friday's shooting attack near Moscow and suggestions of a Ukrainian link "have nothing in common with reality," a spokesman for Kyiv's military spy agency said on Saturday.
Russia's FSB security service said "all four terrorists" behind the attack at a concert hall near the capital had been arrested while heading to the Ukrainian border, and that they had contacts in Ukraine.
"This is of course another lie from the Russian special services, which has nothing in common with reality and does not stand up against any criticism," Andriy Yusov, of the Defence Ministry's Main Directorate of Intelligence, told Reuters.
He added: "Ukraine was of course not involved in this terror attack. Ukraine is defending its sovereignty from Russian invaders, liberating its own territory and is fighting with the occupiers' army and military targets, not civilians."
His remarks echoed those of presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak, who denied any Ukrainian link in comments on Friday evening and again on Saturday. Podolyak wrote on X on Saturday that "any attempts to connect Ukraine to the terrorist attack are absolutely untenable".