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Two arrested in Moscow as FSB foils Ukrainian attack on Metropolitan Tikhon of Crimea

According to the FSB, an improvised explosive device and two fake Ukrainian passports have been confiscated from the suspects

Metropolitan Tikhon of Simferopol and Crimea Mikhail Klimentyev/TASS

Metropolitan Tikhon of Simferopol and Crimea

© Mikhail Klimentyev/TASS

MOSCOW, February 28. /TASS/. Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has thwarted an attack on Metropolitan Tikhon of Crimea plotted by Ukraine’s military intelligence in Moscow, the FSB told TASS.

"The Federal Security Service has foiled a terrorist attack plotted by Ukraine’s special services against Metropolitan Tikhon (Shevkunov) of Simferopol and Crimea," the FSB reported. "A Ukrainian citizen and a Russian citizen, recruited by the Ukrainian Defense Ministry’s Main Directorate of Intelligence via Telegram, have been arrested as a result of an operation in Moscow," the FSB added.

A criminal probe has been launched. According to the FSB, an improvised explosive device and two fake Ukrainian passports have been confiscated from the suspects.

The two men have made confessions saying that they had been plotting to attack Metropolitan Tikhon during his visit to Moscow. "After committing the crime, they plotted to leave Russia using fake passports given to them by the Ukrainian special services," the FSB said.

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