US claims Russia is planning ‘false flag’ operation to justify invasion of Ukraine | Russia

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The United States has alleged that Russia has already stationed saboteurs in Ukraine to carry out a “false flag” operation to use as a pretext for a Russian attack, which Washington says could begin next month.

The allegations, on the heels of similar allegations by the government in Kiev, come after a week of diplomacy failed to defuse the crisis sparked by Russia’s build-up of more than 100,000 troops near the Ukrainian border. Moscow has consistently portrayed the crisis as a military threat from Ukraine against Russia, without providing any evidence.

“Russia is laying the groundwork for the option of fabricating a pretext for the invasion, including through sabotage activities and media operations, by accusing Ukraine of preparing an imminent attack against Russian forces in eastern Ukraine,” a US official said.

We have information indicating that Russia has indeed appointed a group of activists to carry out a false flag operation in eastern Ukraine.

“Russian influencers have already started fabricating Ukrainian provocations in state and social media,” the official said, noting that Russia had used similar tactics prior to the 2014 annexation of Crimea.

The Russian military plans to start these activities several weeks before the military invasion, which could start between mid-January and mid-February.

Ukrainian officials claimed that the provocation could take the form of a violent incident at the Russian embassy or consulate, which Moscow could then blame for Ukrainian far-right extremists.

The US claim came on the same day Ukraine was hit by a “massive” cyber attack, with the websites shutting down of several government departments including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Education.

Reports said the hackers left a message on the State Department’s website. He said: “Ukrainians! … All information about you has become public. Be afraid and expect the worst. It is your past, your present and your future.”

“Practically 90%” of the affected sites were back online by mid-afternoon, said Andrey Yermak, head of the presidential office in Kiev.

Ukraine’s most strategic infrastructure was not destroyed by this attack. This is very [well] Yermak said at a meeting of the Atlantic Council from Kiev. He said Ukraine was working with the United States and the United Kingdom to confirm who was behind the attack.

Earlier today, Ukraine’s Ministry of Information said that “the first data indicate that the attack was carried out by the Russian Federation.” However, the White House could not immediately confirm this.

“We don’t have backing at this time,” a US official told reporters. “As we continue to assess the impact with the Ukrainians, it appears to be limited so far, with websites back online. We will consult with allies and partners including Ukraine.”

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