Moscow claims Ukrainian intelligence services are planning false flag attacks on foreign ships and Russian opposition figures

Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) claimed in a statement published Tuesday that Ukrainian intelligence agencies are preparing to carry out “a series of high-profile anti-Russian false flag attacks” in the near future “with the support of their Western handlers.”

According to the agency, one of these plans involves using Russian-made naval mines to stage an explosion targeting a foreign vessel in the Baltic Sea. “Moscow will be blamed for the incident,” the SVR alleged.

The agency claimed this “operation” is intended to prompt NATO to block Russia’s access to the Baltic Sea “under the pretext of ensuring maritime security.” It also asserted that Ukraine is trying to “drag the alliance into a direct military conflict with Russia.”

Additionally, the SVR alleged that the Ukrainian Defense Ministry’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR), in coordination with European intelligence agencies, is “preparing attacks on members of Russia’s non-systemic opposition and fugitive businessmen living abroad.” It claimed that responsibility for these attacks will be pinned on Russian intelligence services.

According to the SVR, the Ukrainian authorities are seeking to obstruct “the launch of a peace settlement process” in order to “save themselves.”

The Ukrainian authorities have not commented on the SVR’s claims.