Ukraine accuses Russia of organizing a terrorist attack in Kyiv
The Security Service of Ukraine accused the General Staff of the Russian Federation of organizing terrorist attacks in Kyiv near Espreso TV, where the Deputy of the Verkhovna Rada, Ihor Mosiychuk was injured.
Two people died and four were injured at an explosion at the building exit of the Espreso TV station in Kyiv at the end of October 2017. The deceased were former employee of the Ministry of Internal affairs Mykhailo Mormil, walking nearby and Police Staff Sergeant Ruslan Kushnir. Mosiychuk, well-known Ukrainian political analyst Vitaliy Bala and two others were injured.
Earlier, the head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), Vasyl Hrytsak spoke about solving the case of the terrorist attack in which Mosiychuk was injured.
“The organizer of the crime, an unidentified male, a representative of the main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation visited Ukraine from September 9 to 11, and from October 10 to 15, 2017,” the SBU Deputy Head Viktor Kononenko stated at the briefing on Thursday.
According to Kononenko, there are currently four defendants in this case: a Russian citizen and three Ukrainians whose identities have now been established. According to the investigation, two of them were direct perpetrators of the terrorist attack and they are now evading Ukrainian justice by staying in Russian territory. Another suspect, an accomplice of a terrorist organization has been detained and is in custody.
The representative of the Prosecutor’s office stated that all three Ukrainians are now officially suspects in the case. In particular, the detained defendant of the case is charged with "being an accessory to terrorist attacks that led to the loss of human lives" and "unlawful possession and production of explosive devices.”
Two other Ukrainians are now suspects in absentia, wanted under the articles "Attempt on the life of a public figure,” "terrorist attack" and "illegal possession of weapons." The investigation will appeal to the Russian Federation regarding the extradition of defendants of the case to Ukraine for criminal prosecution.
The Deputy Prosecutor of Kyiv did not mention specific motives for crime, however, in replying to the clarifying question of whether the attack was targeted specifically against Mosiychuk, he noted that "based on the information received, Mosiychuk was who they wanted.”