Russian special services may be plotting provocations against the civilian population of Russia and Belarus on 9 May, a representative of the Ukrainian Defence Ministry's Main Intelligence Directorate, Andriy Yusov, has said.
"Since 2014, the occupiers have been using this kind of provocation, and it is possible that we will face it now. In this situation, provocations may be directed by the Russian special services against the Russian civilian population and timed to certain dates, for example, 9 May," Yusov said.
He also suggested that the Russians could also plot provocations against Belarus in order to involve the Belarusian army in the war against Ukraine through a "false flag operation".
"No-one in Ukraine or the rest of the world will believe in such performances anymore. Although this does not mean that there will be no provocations," Yusov concluded.
Earlier it was reported that Russians are preparing a false flag provocation on the northern borders of Ukraine to mobilise their society. In particular, more than 300 Russian troops in Bryansk and Kursk regions were issued the uniform of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.