UPDATES WITH MORE COMMENTS FROM HEAD OF RUSSIAN FEDERAL SECURITY SERVICE, EDITS THROUGHOUT
By Burc Eruygur
ISTANBUL (AA) - Ukraine's Security Service should be declared a "terrorist organization," the head of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said on Tuesday.
"We need to do this, of course, yes. I believe that this is the basis. Not only to count, but also to make appropriate decisions," Alexander Bortnikov told reporters in Moscow following an expanded meeting of the board of Russia's Prosecutor General's Office.
Bortnikov said the leadership of Ukraine's special services, including Kyrylo Budanov, the head of defense intelligence, are "legitimate targets" of Russia.
He also accused the US, UK and Ukraine of being behind the Friday attack on the Crocus City Hall in the Moscow region that killed 139 people.
He claimed Kyiv is trying to "prove its worth," and that it is necessary to carry out "sabotage and terrorist acts" in order to do so, which he argued is what the leadership of the Ukrainian and British intelligence services are aiming to do.
Bortnikov further claimed that Ukraine carried out training of “terrorists” in the Middle East.
He went on to say that the threat of "terrorist acts" in Russia continues, acknowledging that the US did provide general information to Russia about a possible terrorist attack in the country.
Nikolai Patrushev, the head of Russia's Security Council, said after the meeting that law enforcement agencies have evidence of Ukraine's involvement in the concert hall attack.
President Vladimir Putin has said the shooting was carried out by radicals, but more specific and professional questions such as who ordered it have to be answered.