Russia says two held for planning attacks on security sites

MOSCOW: Russia said Friday it had detained two people accused of harbouring pro-Ukrainian sympathies for planning attacks on police and military facilities.

Since Moscow launched its Ukraine offensive in early 2022, it has arrested several people, mainly Russians accused of collaborating with Kyiv or preparing attacks on Russian military facilities.

The Federal Security Service (FSB) said the detainees arrested in the southern Volgograd region near Ukraine were members of an extremist nationalist group.

The FSB also said it had confiscated explosives and firearms during a search of the suspects' premises.

The suspects, who were not identified, had established contacts with nationalists in Ukraine and planned to attack a police station, military recruitment office and other targets in the two of Volzhsky, the FSB said.

Their statement said the detainees also planned to attack public places.