Russia’s Embassy notified of Russians’ detention in Kyiv anti-terror raid

Press Secretary of Russia's Embassy in Ukraine Oleg Grishin says that the Embassy has received confirmation from Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs that Russian citizens were detained during a special operation to neutralize a subversive group in Kyiv on Wednesday evening, according to Russian news agency RIA Novosti.

"The Embassy of Russia has been notified by the Ukrainian side of the detention of the Russian citizens, and is now preparing documents to have access to the detainees," Grishin said.

Ukraine's SBU Security Service neutralized a sabotage and reconnaissance group late on December 9, 2015 during a special anti-terror raid in Kyiv. The group was reported to have a network covering some Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv and Kharkiv. A member of the group resisted arrest by opening fire from an automatic gun and wounded two Alpha special force officers. He was shot dead in response. Later, wounded Alfa officer Andriy Kuzmenko, who participated in the Anti-Terrorist Operation in eastern Ukraine, died from wounds.

SBU spokesperson Olena Gitlyanska said that three Russians and four Ukrainians were among the detained members of the subversive group, while the eighth, a citizen of Ukraine, was killed in the shootout during the raid.

SBU investigators opened a criminal case in keeping with Articles No. 258 and 258-3 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.