Russia to tighten safety measures in Crimea after thwarting terror attack

President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that Russia would take additional measures to ensure safety in Crimea after it has succeeded in preventing a series of terrorist attacks on the peninsula.

"We will certainly do our utmost to ensure safety of infrastructure and citizens...(and) those will be serious additional measures and more than that," he told a news conference after meeting with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan in Moscow.

The Russian leader also vowed to bring to justice the murderers of two Russian service members who died in the campaign to thwart the terrorist attacks in Crimea that Moscow said was planned by the Ukraine military intelligence service.

Putin accused the Kiev authorities for turning to "terror" instead of solving problems through negotiations, while calling for attention from Western countries.

Earlier in the day, the Russian Federal Security Bureau (FSB) said that Russia has prevented a series of terrorist attacks in Crimea planned by the Ukraine military intelligence service.

An Ukrainian military intelligence officer and a group of Russian and Ukrainian citizens who were suspected to be Ukrainian military intelligence agents and assisted in preparing of terrorist acts were detained and interrogated, the FSB said in a statement.

The claims made by the FSB were immediately rejected by the Ukrainian side.

Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council Secretary Oleksandr Turchynov said the claims were "hysterical and false," and the Ukrainian Defense Ministry termed the allegations as Moscow's attempt to justify its redeployment and actions in the region.

Crimea, which was previously part of Ukraine, was incorporated into Russia in 2014 following a referendum, which was recognized by Moscow but rejected by Ukraine and Western powers.

Source : XINHUA