Russian secret service reports the arrest of three alleged Ukrainian agents

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Russia's President Vladimir Putin

Photo: Mikhail Metzel / dpa

The Russian secret service FSB reportedly arrested three alleged Ukrainian agents. Allegedly someone had planned a "terrorist attack" with explosives on Russian territory, reported the Russian news agency Interfax, citing the security service. The other two are suspected of having collected classified information about strategically important facilities in Russia. When and in which regions the Ukrainian spies were arrested, the secret service did not disclose.

The arrests came amid mounting tensions between Russia and Ukraine and the West.

For some time there have been reports of a Russian troop deployment on the border with Ukraine.

The government in Kiev and NATO fear that the troop movements near the border could be harbingers of an open military confrontation.

Russia has said it has no intention of invading Ukraine.

Germany and the US only warned Russia of an attack on Ukraine on Tuesday.

"Russia would have to pay a high price for any form of aggression," declared the Federal Foreign Minister Heiko Maas.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said "any new aggression would have serious consequences."

"If we try sincerely, no one will experience a threat"

Russian President Vladimir Putin said at an event in Moscow on Tuesday that Russia would be forced to act if NATO crossed its "red lines" with regard to Ukraine.

Moscow would view the deployment of certain offensive missiles on Ukrainian soil as a trigger.

Regarding NATO's fears of a possible invasion of Russian troops into Ukraine, Putin said: "It's not about sending troops there or not sending them, fighting or not fighting, but about improving relations." Everyone's security interests international actors would have to be taken into account.

"If we make a sincere effort, no one will experience a threat," Putin said.

mrc / Reuters