Russian state media report that the Federal Security Service (FSB) has detained two officers from the Ukrainian Defence Ministry’s Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) in Kaliningrad, accused of spying along the Russian-Lithuanian border.
According to the Russian state news agency TASS, the detainees were allegedly planning to abduct the child of a GUR employee, a Russian citizen.
“The GUR employees attempted to illegally enter the Russian Federation from the territory of Lithuania but were intercepted by security officials. During the investigation, it was established that the aim of the operation was the abduction and illegal transportation of a minor Russian citizen, whose father is a GUR employee, across the state border of the Russian Federation,” FSB representatives said.
According to the FSB, the alleged Ukrainian intelligence officers intended to gather information on the security of the Russian-Lithuanian border to be used for future operations and interviewed residents of the Lithuanian border area.
The detainees have been charged with espionage, according to TASS.
Lithuania’s National Crisis Management Centre (NKVC) has commented that the report was baseless and aimed at discrediting Vilnius’ support for Ukraine.
“The information published by the Russian special services and disseminated through state-controlled media channels can only be regarded as a regular provocation. It is an attempt to discredit Lithuania and its unwavering support for Ukraine,” it said in a written comment.
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