The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) has accused Kiev of preparing a "loud provocation" aimed at presenting Moscow as an escalating party and inciting European countries to "the harshest possible", including military, response, TASS reported, citing a press release from the service, News.bg reports.
In the statement, the SVR claims that Kiev, "facing the prospect of inevitable defeat", is ready to use all necessary means, even at the risk of provoking a "big war", acting "under the cover of the Europeans". According to Russian intelligence, one of the possible provocations is a simulated attack on critical infrastructure in Poland, aimed at causing public outrage.
The SVR claims that the plan is being developed by the Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense "in cooperation" with Polish intelligence services and may include staged strikes against Polish targets. The SVR also states that after the drone incidents in Polish and Romanian airspace, Ukraine has begun preparing a new operation.
In the statement, the SVR also claims that a sabotage and reconnaissance group will participate in the operation, which will be presented as a unit of Russian and Belarusian special forces in order to create the impression of direct intervention by Moscow and Minsk.
According to the Russian authorities, the potential participants in the operation are fighters fighting on the side of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, including representatives of the "Legion "Freedom of Russia" and the Belarusian "Regiment "K. Kalinovsky", which the SVR describes as recognized as terrorist in Russia and Belarus.
The SVR adds that after the Polish services "discover and neutralize" group, its members plan to appear before the media and give testimony aimed at "confirming" the involvement of Russia and Belarus in the destabilization attempt.