- Title: Kiev accuses Russia of 'plan to destabilise' Ukraine
- Date: 11th November 2016
- Summary: KIEV, UKRAINE (NOVEMBER 11, 2016) (REUTERS) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** HEAD OF SECURITY SERVICE OF UKRAINE (SBU) DEPARTMENT ON PROTECTION OF NATIONAL STATEHOOD, ANATOLIY DUBLYK, STANDING NEAR PODIUM CAMERAMEN (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) HEAD OF SBU DEPARTMENT ON PROTECTION OF NATIONAL STATEHOOD, ANATOLIY DUBLYK, SAYING: "The aim of the plan is internal destabilisation, namely the organisation of snap parliamentary elections in our country with the purpose of bringing pro-Russian forces to power and strengthening their position in the new parliament, solely with the purpose of revising the European track and the change in our country's foreign policy vector." SBU EMBLEM ON WALL (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) HEAD OF SBU DEPARTMENT ON PROTECTION OF NATIONAL STATEHOOD, ANATOLIY DUBLYK, SAYING: "The Kremlin also plans deterioration on the frontline. You can see that the plan in its element is the heightening tension, intensifying fighting to the highest level since the past year, provoking our fighters to local skirmishes." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS
- Embargoed: 26th November 2016 11:29
- Keywords: Ukraine SBU Russia destabilisation saboteurs
- Location: KIEV, UKRAINE
- City: KIEV, UKRAINE
- Country: Ukraine
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace
- Reuters ID: LVA0015802M2V
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Ukraine's security service said on Friday (November 11) it had received operational data that proved the existence of a Russian plan to destabilise the political situation in the country starting Nov. 15.
The SBU security service said a recent leak of Kremlin emails, including from an account linked to Vladislav Surkov, a Vladimir Putin aide, confirmed their suspicions.
"The aim of the plan is internal destabilisation, namely the organisation of snap parliamentary elections in our country with the purpose of bringing pro-Russian forces to power and strengthening their position in the new parliament, solely with the purpose of revising the European track and the change in our country's foreign policy vector," said Anatoliy Dublyk, head of the SBU's department of national statehood protection, at a news conference in Kiev.
A network of Ukrainian hacking groups, called the Cyber Alliance, has been releasing emails taken from accounts linked to senior Russian officials, including to Putin's chief spokesman.
If authentic, the emails leaked by the hackers purported to be linked to Surkov, dubbed the "grey cardinal" because of his behind-the-scenes influence, suggest a close relationship between Surkov and separatist officials, as well as detailed Russian plans to stir up further unrest and anti-Ukrainian sentiment in Kiev-controlled territory.
A purported email to Surkov from a Russian official, dated April 2015, proposes the formation of a civilian group in Ukraine's Kharkiv region that would aim to "mobilise dissent, criticism of the politics of Kiev authorities" and promote ideas of greater autonomy.
Dublyk said Russia planned to undermine operations on the battle frontline in the east of the country.
"The Kremlin also plans deterioration on the frontline. You can see that the plan in its element is the heightening tension, intensifying fighting to the highest level since the past year, provoking our fighters to local skirmishes," said Dublyk.
The SBU official said Russia's plan envisages mass street protests with a blockade of state bodies and scuffles between protesters and law-enforcement bodies, which may darken EU-Ukraine summit on November 24.
According to the SBU, Surkov's first deputy Inal Ardzinba is responsible for implementation of the plan.
Ukraine made its statement a day after Russia accused it of planning attacks against military sites and infrastructure in Crimea, which Kiev dismissed as false.
Relationship between Ukraine and Russia Ukraine deteriorated substantially after street protests in 2014 toppled a Kremlin-backed president and lit the fuse for the outbreak of a war with pro-Russian separatists that has killed nearly 10,000 people. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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