Ukraine's SBU state security service has released a video showing the February 22 detention of suspects who allegedly planned to carry out guerilla attacks targeting Ukrainian military personnel in Kharkiv, where earlier in the day at least two people were killed when a peace march was bombed.
The SBU says it recovered a Russian-made grenade launcher from the suspects and claims the detainees have admitted to receiving wepaons, and instructions from inidividuals with ties to Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB). The SBU claims the "leader of the criminal group" met with FSB officers across the border in the southern Russian city of Belogorod to report on the group's purported diversionary activities and to receive instructions for new actions.
Ukrainian authorities are searching for more suspects who may have been involved in the bombing of the Kharkiv parade on February 22, the SBU said.
In a video statement purportedly issued by the so-called "Kharkiv Partisans," the group has denied involvement in the February 22 bombing of a parade in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv that killed at least two people and injured several others.
The man reading the statement says that the Kharkiv Partisans does not target large gatherings of civilians in its battle with the "Kyiv junta." That term is used by Russian officials and Russian-backed separatists to describe Ukraine's pro-Western leadership that rose to power after former President Viktor Yanukovych, a Kremlin ally, fled his post amid mass protests in February 2014.
Ukraine's SBU security service released a video on February 22 showing the detention of what it called members of the Kharkiv Partisans who were allegedly planning attacks in the city.
The man reading the puported Kharkiv Partisans statement claims that the bombing of the parade was ordered by Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov in order to justify heightened "anti-terrorist" operations in Kharkiv.
From the report:
At 14:45hrs, a police spokesperson and a representative of the prosecutor’s office gave a press conference at the scene, confirming that an explosive device killed two (one police officer, and one civilian taking part in the march) and injured eleven, six of whom were police officers.
The SMM observed that the main commemoration had concluded and that approximately 500 participants (approximately equal numbers of men and women and some children) were on Marshal Zhukova Street carrying a 250m long Ukrainian national flag to Liberty Square when the device was detonated. Police confirmed to SMM that the explosion took place at the head of the march which was led by police officers escorting participants to Liberty Square. The police also informed the SMM that the device consisted of the explosive trinitrotoluene (TNT) and shrapnel concealed in a plastic bag and was detonated remotely. According to police, the device was similar to one that exploded at the Moscovyi District Courthouse in Kharkiv (see SMM Daily Report based on information as of 21 January). The incident is being investigated as an act of terrorism according to police.
That concludes our live blogging for Sunday, February 22. Follow our continuing coverage of events in Ukraine and throughout RFE/RL's region HERE.
By RFE/RL
Officials in Ukraine say they have detained four Ukrainian citizens in connection with an explosion in the eastern city of Kharkiv that killed two people and wounded 11 others.
Police say the people killed in the February 22 explosion were a police officer and a civilian. Four of the wounded were also police officers.
Oleksandr Turchynov, head of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, said a "counterterrorism operation" has been launched in Kharkiv in response to the incident.
The bomb struck a peace march that was being held to mark the first anniversary of the ouster of former President Viktor Yanukovych.
An official with Ukraine's SBU state security service was quoted as saying the four people who were detained "underwent instruction and received weapons" in the Russian city of Belgorod.
Kyiv and its Western allies have repeatedly accused Moscow of direct aid to separatist fighters, including through the supply of weapons, soldiers, instruction, and other equipment.
A Kharkiv prosecutor was quoted by Interfax as saying the bomb was filled with shrapnel.
Read more here.
From RFE/RL's News Desk:
European Council President Donald Tusk has said he will initiate consultations with European Union leaders on the possibilty of expanding sanctions against Russia for its policies in Ukraine.
Tusk made the comments on February 22 in Kyiv after viewing an exhibition of Russian military equipment captured by Ukrainian security forces during fighting with Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.
Tusk said he will begin the consultations on February 23.
Tusk participated in a Dignity March to mark the first anniversary of the ouster of former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych together with the presidents of Germany, Lithuania, Moldova, and Poland.
The EU expanded its blacklist of Russian and Ukrainian individuals and entities under sanction on February 16, adding two Russian deputy defense ministers, two State Duma deputies, and 15 separatist leaders.