Ukrainian President orders high combat readiness on border with Crimea

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Thursday instructed all military units near Crimea and the eastern Ukrainian Donbass region to be at the highest level of combat readiness.

Poroshenko gave the order after a military meeting here. It comes after Russia's security service said on Wednesday it had foiled a terrorist attack in Crimea plotted by Kiev.

Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said it had found a group of infiltrators in Crimea, near the Ukrainian border. The infiltrators were preparing to target Crimea infrastructure, the agency said. Explosive devices and ammunition were also discovered at the scene.

A network of agents from Ukraine's chief intelligence directorate has been uncovered in Crimea, according to the FSB.

 

Meanwhile, security in the region has been tightened due to the discovery, the FSB announced, saying that additional security arrangements have been made near major infrastructure objects, in crowded places, and on the Russian-Ukrainian border.

Kiev denied claims that it was behind the terrorist plot, and accused Moscow of provocation.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that Ukraine has turned to "the practice of terrorism" and "is playing a dangerous game", calling Kiev's actions "stupid and criminal".

--IANS

ahm/dg