A Russian official says American and British intelligence agencies are recruiting members of international terrorist groups to fight for Ukraine.
Ever since Russia launched its special military operations in eastern Ukraine in late February with the aim of liberating the pro-Russia regions, there have been reports of foreign mercenaries fighting for the Kiev regime.
"Amid the special military operation, US and British intelligence services are recruiting members of international terrorist organizations with the aim of relocating them to participate in hostilities on the side of the Kiev regime," Secretary of Russia’s Security Council Nikolai Patrushev said at a meeting of CIS security chiefs on Thursday.
Patrushev said the US is trying to enlist terrorists in Afghanistan to send them fighting against Russia in Ukraine, "the world's center of far-right extremism."
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He said terrorist elements already present in Ukraine pursue attacks on vessels meant to ensure the functioning of the humanitarian corridor for food exports under the Istanbul grain deal, referring to a reported Saturday attack that led Russia to withdraw from the deal for several days.
Patrushev also noted that the West's hegemonic expansionist policies led to the current global security crisis.
"The reckless policy of Washington, London, and their allies resulted in bloody adventures in the Balkans, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Afghanistan and Ukraine, which have already claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people," he said.
"Western countries have unfairly accused our country of provoking the food crisis. However, its main reason is illegal sanctions that make it difficult to supply Russian agricultural products and fertilizers to countries in need."
Patrushev also said the West incited Kiev to stage attacks on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southeastern Ukraine and was now assisting it in creating "a dirty bomb."
"According to the available data, Ukraine is carrying out work to create a ‘dirty’ nuclear charge. We believe that this process is taking place with the participation of Western patrons. In this regard, we express a very serious concern over this clearly dangerous situation that threatens to turn into a global catastrophe, if it is not stopped," the Russian security chief warned.