Russian ‘saboteurs’ planning ‘series of armed attacks’ found in Ukraine – war fears erupt

The country’s SBU security service has said the Russian saboteurs were found in Kharkvic, just 20 miles from the Russian border today. It comes after the US warned Russia may launch ‘false flag’ operations to justify an invasion into Ukraine.

Fears of an invasion have been building as Russian troops – along with military equipment – continue to spread across Ukraine’s border.

According to Ukrainian agents, the ‘criminal’ gang were planning a string of robberies against urban infrastructure and commercial properties before the security service uncovered their plot.

The gang is believed to have been organised by two men who used the disguise of a security company to recruit other criminals, reported the MailOnline.

Ukraine’s SBU secret service targeted the gang’s operations at the properties of the alleged organisers, with police saying they found ammunition, guns, devices to disrupt radio communications and a bomb.

Electronic devices and plans detailing the robberies were also found – as well as a large stash of cash in Ukrainian notes and US dollars.

The Ukrainian secret service posted photos of their findings on Twitter, alongside the caption: “SBU neutralised a criminal group that was preparing a series of attacks on facilities in the border regions of Ukraine.

“A large-scale operation took place in Zhytomyr and Kharkiv. The criminals were coordinated by representatives of the Russian special services.”

READ MORE: Boris, Biden and EU agree to slap Russia with unprecedented sanctions

“We need to make it very clear to the Kremlin, to Russia, that that would be a disastrous step.”

He warned the Kremlin that from Russia’s perspective an invasion would be “disastrous”, and a “painful and bloody business”.

Moscow continues to deny plans of an invasion, despite more than 100,000 Russian troops believed to be poised on Ukraine’s border.

In a clear message of Western unity today, Boris Johnson, Joe Biden and other NATO leaders told Putin he will face “unprecedented sanctions” if he invades Ukraine, while 8,500 US troops are on standby ready to deploy to Eastern Europe.