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Ukrainian military intelligence agents plotting terror attack detained in LPR

"On March 8, 2022, the state security ministry of the Lugansk People’s Republic detained two agents of the Ukrainian defense ministry’s main intelligence department, who were seconded to the LPR to prepare and commit terror attacks both within the republic and on the territory of Russia’s Rostov region," it said

LUGANSK, March 6. /TASS/. Two Ukrainian military intelligence agents plotting to commit terror attacks in the Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR) have been detained by LPR security ministry officers, the ministry said on Sunday.

"On March 8, 2022, the state security ministry of the Lugansk People’s Republic detained two agents of the Ukrainian defense ministry’s main intelligence department, who were seconded to the LPR to prepare and commit terror attacks both within the republic and on the territory of Russia’s Rostov region," it said.

According to the LPR state security ministry, the agents were detained in Lugansk when they were trafficking weapons and munitions that had been seized in the city. The men served in a Right Sector nationalist organization (outlawed in Russia) unit deployed in Stanitsa Luganskaya. In February 2022, the group was tasked to stage a terror attack on an oil facility in the city of Rovenki.

After the LPR took control of the city, the agents were tasked to go to the city of Novoshakhtinsk in Russia in a period from March 7 to 9, when they would receive further instructions. The detainees say they think that "the goal of their stay in that city might be a terror attack on critical infrastructure facilities," the ministry said.

Following a dramatic aggravation of the situation, the Donbass republics on February 18 announced the evacuation of civilians to Russia over a threat of further escalation. On January 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a decision to recognize the sovereignty of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics. The treaties on friendship, cooperation and mutual aid were signed with their leaders.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a televised address on February 24 that in response to a request by the heads of the Donbass republics he had made a decision to carry out a special military operation in order to protect people "who have been suffering from abuse and genocide by the Kiev regime for eight years." The Russian leader stressed that Moscow had no plans of occupying Ukrainian territories.

Following this step, the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom and several other countries announced sanctions against Russia individuals and legal entities.

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