Ukraine officers arrest Russian-backed terrorist suspect

Officers with the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU)
arrested a Ukrainian citizen on Jan. 10 for planning terrorist acts under the direction
of Russian intelligence services, the press service of Operation Joint Forces
reported that day on Facebook. Between August and January, the suspect was
observed acquitting grenades and pistols at a value of USD 5,250. He gave USD
600 to an undercover agent to harm a third person. He was arrested during his
latest purchase of pistols.

“It was established that citizen K conspired with
yet-to-be established individuals and cleared his actions with (Russian) FSB
agents with the goal of physical support for opposition political forces by
means of committing terrorists acts and mass riots on Ukrainian territory
during presidential elections in Ukraine,” the press service reported. The
arrest was made under the direction of the military prosecutors of the Mariupol
garrison.

Zenon Zawada: This arrest
confirms our view that the Russian government will be particularly active this
year in destabilizing Ukraine during elections, with the aim of provoking
disintegration processes for statehood. There is already evidence that the FSB
is actively cultivating numerous Ukrainian citizens, and entire sleeper cells,
to provoke riots and armed rebellions.

We believe the most opportune time will be when the
leading presidential contenders won’t be able to agree on election results
after the second-round run off on April 21 (that is, if elections are held at
all). We are confident that leading candidate Yulia Tymoshenko won’t recognize
a declared victory for President Petro Poroshenko, and Poroshenko won’t
recognize a Tymoshenko victory. The Russians will be eager to stimulate and
capitalize on the ensuing chaos.