Ukrainian opposition calls for investigation into failed undercover operation detailed by CNN

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The new calls follow an exclusive CNN investigation in which former senior Ukrainian military intelligence officials described attempts to lure suspected war criminals out of Russia to be prosecuted for acts of violence committed in eastern Ukraine, where Moscow-backed separatists have been fighting for years. .

CNN sources have detailed and provided evidence that the Russians arrested in Belarus last year were the target of this elaborate intelligence sting, with US knowledge and support, which US officials deny. But the Russians were ultimately never sent to Ukraine.

In Ukraine’s parliament on Thursday there was a brief scuffle and rowdy scenes as opposition MPs held up placards accusing government figures of being responsible for the failure of the operation.

One sign read “It is time to name the traitors of Ukraine” and another sign read “We demand the truth”.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s office adviser Mikhail Podoliak on Wednesday rejected CNN’s report, questioning the use of anonymous sources.

“As usual, obligatory anonymous retirees – and this is the key – confirm something. Another anonymous source denies something. Again: anonymous, no name, no function and, therefore, sources that do not ‘have no informational and reputational value, “Podoliak told Ukrainian state media Ukrinform.

Podoliak also highlighted a Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) statement on Wednesday that the CNN report offered “new evidence” that the Ukrainian secret service was interfering in Moscow’s internal affairs.

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“When before has the FSB official appeared in the media almost instantly to support and praise a report? It is in fact a signal for the whole Russian propaganda system, on what to do and how to work. Now they’re going to “scatter” this story with reference to CNN, ”Podoliak said.

But speaking to the Ukrainian parliament on Thursday, opposition politician Iryna Herashchenko of the European Solidarity Party accused the presidential office of mishandling the situation, saying “CNN was spreading lies and deceit , and accused them of cooperating with the FSB “.

“Let me remind you,” Herachchenko added, “Zelensky was on the front lines with this same CNN correspondent. Then it turns out that Zelensky took FSB agents to the front lines so that they could film information about our military there? match, ”she said.

CNN’s Matthew Chance gained unprecedented access to Zelensky on the front lines in eastern Ukraine earlier this year, as Russia ramped up travel near the border region.

Herashchenko, who is herself a former journalist, accused Zelensky’s office of censoring the CNN article in Ukraine and urged Ukrainian journalists to take note of the story to “honor” the Ukrainian military which, according to she was betrayed by the failure of the operation.

CNN’s Matthew Chance and Zahra Ullah reported in Moscow, and Katharina Krebs in London.

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