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Crimea and Sevastopol

Russian diplomat, EU envoy discuss attempted terror attacks in Crimea

The Russian Foreign Ministry reports explanations were given concerning attacks' attempts made by the Ukrainian Defense Ministry

© EPA/STEPHANIE LECOCQ

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MOSCOW, August 12. /TASS/. Russian First Deputy Foreign Minister Vladimir Titov has given explanations to Vygaudas Usackas, the EU’s Ambassador to Russia, concerning attempts to carry out terrorist attacks in Crimea made by employees of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Friday.

"During the conversation, the two sides discussed topical issues related to European security, cooperation between Russia and the European Union and a number of international problems, including the situation in Syria and Ukraine," the ministry said.

"Detailed explanations have been given to Usackas regarding an attempt to carry out terror attacks in Crimea made by employees of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry that have been thwarted by Russia’s competent agencies," the ministry said.

TASS earlier reported that Ukrainian and Russian citizens who provided assistance in plotting terrorist attacks had been detained in Crimea.

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According to the FSB, one of the organizers of the planned terrorist attacks was Yevgeny Panov, a resident of Ukraine’s Zaporozhye region born in 1977, an employee of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry’s main intelligence directorate who was detained as well and is giving a confession.

The Russian Federal Security Service said on Wednesday that it had detained a group of Ukrainian saboteurs overnight to August 7 near the city of Armyansk (Crimea) and that it had prevented terrorist attacks in Crimea prepared by the Ukrainian Defense Ministry’s main intelligence directorate. Their planned targets were critically important infrastructure and life support facilities.

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Foreign policy Crimea and Sevastopol

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