MOSCOW: Russia on Thursday accused the Ukrainian security services of instigating a spate of 55 arson and bomb attacks on banks, post offices and police cars across the country. The interior ministry said in a statement that 44 suspects had been arrested, many of them elderly people and minors "looking for easy money". It said perpetrators faced up to 20 years in prison.
"Suspects acted on the instructions of anonymous supervisors received by telephone or messengers," it said. "Ukrainian security services are behind the organisation of these crimes," it said, calling for "vigilance". "Do not let yourselves be intimated or deceived", it said.
The ministry said 55 such "illegal acts" were reported between December 18 and December 26 in several regions. As a rule, the perpetrators incited citizens to commit crimes by promising monetary rewards. "There are also instances when scammers first took possession of citizens' funds and then offered to return the stolen money in exchange for fulfilling some assignments," it said. In other cases, people were "intimidated" by callers who introduced themselves as police officers. Russia has seen a wave of vandalism and small-scale attacks since it launched its campaign in Ukraine in 2022.
Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Thursday said France had tried to establish "dialogue" with Moscow on Ukraine but without Kyiv's participation — a claim that was dismissed by Paris as "intemperate". Western countries have called for a united front in support for Ukraine and have constantly said that no decisions could be taken without Ukraine's agreement. "On several occasions our French colleagues have appealed through confidential channels: 'Let us help, let's have a dialogue on the Ukrainian question'. Without Ukraine," Lavrov said at a press conference. He said Russian officials were "ready to listen".
Lavrov did not say when these appeals might have happened or reveal any more details about the supposed contact. "The Russian authorities are accustomed to making intemperate remarks aimed at exploiting a war of aggression for which they bear full responsibility," a French diplomatic source said. "As France has reiterated since the beginning of the war, it is up to Ukraine, the aggressed country, to define the time and conditions under which they wish to enter into a negotiation process," the source said.
After nearly three years of conflict, the possibility of peace talks is being discussed as US President-elect Donald Trump prepares to assume office next month. Trump has repeatedly stated he will aim to bring the fighting to an end without explaining exactly how. France has floated the idea of sending Western troops to Ukraine to monitor a possible ceasefire.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky denounced on Wednesday an "inhumane" attack from Russia, which launched over 170 missiles and drones, knocking out power in several regions on Christmas Day and killing an energy worker. The country woke up at 5:30 am to an air raid alarm, followed shortly by air force reports that Russia had launched Kalibr cruise missiles from the Black Sea. US President Joe Biden called "outrageous" the strikes that cut off people's access to heat and electricity amid winter conditions. — AFP
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