Russia says Ukraine incursion into Crimea thwarted

Russia's Federal Security Service said Wednesday it has thwarted an incursion by Ukraine’s military into Crimea, saying two Russians were killed in the incident.

The armed incursion into Crimea was meant to target critical infrastructure in the territory and took place over the weekend, said the security service, also known as the FSB.

It said a Russian soldier and an FSB employee were killed in the clashes, adding that the incursion was pre-planned.

A spokesman for Ukraine’s defense intelligence rejected Russia’s claim about the alleged incursion, saying it was based on “fake information.”

People in Ukraine’s Black Sea peninsula of Crimea voted for rejoining the Russian Federation in a referendum in March 2014. The West branded the move as Moscow’s annexation of the territory. The United States and its allies in Europe accuse Moscow of having a hand in the conflict in eastern Ukraine. Russia, however, strongly denies the charges.

SS