Ukrainian security services raid government quarter
The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) said on Wednesday it had conducted a routine “counter-sabotage” raid in the government quarter of Kiev.
The operation was carried out by the SBU in cooperation with other law enforcement agencies, namely the civilian National Police and military police.
The SBU outlined the goal of the raid as “checking the counter-sabotage protection” of the area, as well as the safety of “persons eligible to state-level security.”
Law enforcement officers inspected the grounds and buildings in the quarter, including of public institutions and residential areas, searching for unspecified “prohibited items.” People who happened to be present were subjected to random checks.
“The SBU asks citizens to be understanding about possible inconveniences and to respond appropriately to lawful actions and demands of law enforcement officers, to have identification documents with them, as well as to observe the curfew,” the agency announced.
It was not immediately clear whether the raid had yielded practical results or whether any “prohibited items” had been discovered or suspicious individuals apprehended.
The maneuver was meant to reinforce the security of Ukraine’s top leadership, and comes a day after the assassination of the commander of the Russian Radiological, Chemical, and Biological Defense Forces, General Igor Kirillov. The general was killed in an explosion along with his aide in Moscow. Multiple media outlets reported the SBU being behind the attack.
The SBU reportedly regarded the general as “a war criminal and an absolutely legitimate target.” Moscow has condemned the killing as a terrorist attack and vowed to bring those behind it to justice.
