WASHINGTON \u2013 February 4 (ONLINE): US has claimed Russia is planning to stage a fake Ukrainian attack that it would use to justify an invasion.
\nIt alleged Moscow was likely to release a graphic video showing the attack on Russian territory or against Russian-speaking people in eastern Ukraine.<\/p>\n
Russia denied it was planning to fabricate an attack, and the US did not provide evidence to support the claim.
\nThe build-up of tens of thousands of Russian troops on Ukraine’s borders has escalated fears of an invasion.<\/p>\n
Moscow says they are there for military drills, but Ukraine and its Western allies remain concerned that Russia is planning to launch an assault.<\/p>\n
“We do have information that the Russians are likely to want to fabricate a pretext for an invasion,” Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told reporters on Thursday.<\/p>\n
“As part of this fake attack, we believe that Russia would produce a very graphic propaganda video, which would include corpses and actors that would be depicting mourners and images of destroyed locations,” he said.<\/p>\n
But senior US officials said the video was just one of several ideas Russia has to provide a pretext to invade its neighbour.<\/p>\n
They added that the alleged plan was being revealed in an effort to dissuade Russia from invading.<\/p>\n
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded to the reports later on Thursday.<\/p>\n
“This is not the first promise of its kind [to release details about Russian provocation],” he said. “Something similar was also said before, but nothing came of it.”
\nRussia has repeatedly denied that it is planning an attack.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
WASHINGTON \u2013 February 4 (ONLINE): US has claimed Russia is planning to stage a fake Ukrainian attack that it would use to justify an invasion. It alleged Moscow was likely to release a graphic video showing the attack on Russian territory or against Russian-speaking people […]<\/p>\n
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