LondonLONDON, Jan 23The British Foreign Office accused the Russian intelligence services without evidence of allegedly planning to imprison a «pro-Russian leader» in Kiev, as the former deputy of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Yevhen Muraev is named in the ministry's statement, while four former high-ranking representatives of the Ukrainian government, including former Prime Minister Nikolai Azarov, Britain accuses of having links with those who allegedly plan an “attack on Ukraine” in Russia, which Moscow has repeatedly denied. topics. At the same time, the British department did not provide any evidence for their statements. «We have information indicating that the Russian government is seeking to install a pro-Russian leader in Kiev, as it is considering the invasion and occupation of Ukraine. A former people's deputy of Ukraine is being considered as a potential candidate Yevgeny Muraev,” the message says. In addition, the British Foreign Office said that the Russian special services allegedly maintain ties with many former Ukrainian politicians. “We have information that the Russian special services maintain ties with many former Ukrainian politicians, including including First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine in 2012-2014 and Acting Prime Minister in 2014 Serhiy Arbuzov, First Deputy Prime Minister in 2010-2012 and head of the administration of the former President of Ukraine Yanukovych Andriy Klyuyev, former Deputy Head of the National Security Council and defense Ukraine (NSDC) Volodymyr Sivkovich, Prime Minister of Ukraine in 2010-2014 Mykola Azarov. Some of them are in contact with Russian intelligence officers who are currently involved in planning an attack on Ukraine,» the British Foreign Office said. >Commander-in-Chief of the German Navy resigns after words about CrimeaAccording to British Foreign Minister Liz Truss, «the information published today sheds light on the extent of Russian activities aimed at undermining Ukraine, and gives an idea of the Kremlin's thinking.» «As the UK and ours have repeatedly stated partners, any Russian military intervention in Ukraine would be a major strategic mistake with serious costs,» she said. On Saturday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Russia expects military and informational provocations from the United States and Ukraine on the eve of the Beijing Olympics. The Bloomberg agency reported, citing a diplomat in China, that Chinese President Xi Jinping allegedly «asked» Russian leader Vladimir Putin «not to attack Ukraine» during the Olympics. As Zakharova noted in her Telegram channel, the message of this agency is «no longer a fake , this is already an information special operation of the relevant American services» with the help of this media. At the same time, the Chinese embassy in Moscow stated that Bloomberg's publication was a «fake and provocation.» «Russian aggression» is being used as an excuse to deploy more NATO military equipment near Russian borders. The Russian Foreign Ministry noted earlier that Western statements about «Russian aggression» and the possibility of helping Kiev defend itself against it are both ridiculous and dangerous. At the same time, Kiev and Western states have recently expressed concern about the alleged increase in «aggressive actions» by Russia near the borders of Ukraine. Press Secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov said that Russia is moving troops within its territory and at its own discretion. According to him, this does not threaten anyone and should not worry anyone. As Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said earlier, Russia does not create any pretexts for a conflict situation around Ukraine.
The German Foreign Ministry denied rumors about the preparations for the evacuation of the families of diplomats in Ukraine
