MOSCOW, April 17. /ITAR-TASS/. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has dismissed as “paranoia” the allegations made by Kiev officials who claimed that the Russian special tasks force units are involved in the riots in Ukraine.

“The Defense Ministry was deeply surprised to hear Head of the Ukrainian Security Service Valentyn Nalyvaichenko saying that units of the Russian special task force were allegedly involved in the developments in the southeast of Ukraine,” Shoigu told journalists on Thursday.

“Such sensational ‘revelations’ about the alleged involvement of the Russian special task force units in the developments in Ukraine might produce an impression that various press centers are the only efficient combat units in Ukraine at present."

“Instead of incessant search for Moscow's ‘hand’ Kiev ought to stop calling the population of the southeast of Ukraine ‘separatists’ or ‘terrorists’ and begin a constructive dialogue with them,” Shoigu stressed.

“As for the allegations about the involvement of the Russian special task force in the events in Ukraine the only thing to say to that is that searching for a black cat in a dark room is very difficult, especially if there is no cat there at all. It is particular silly if the cat is clever, bold and polite.”