Ukraine's national security service said Tuesday it had uncovered a Russian spy network and detained one of its members, while expelling five others.
The Russian Federal Security Service, the FSB, was quick to respond, saying the incident was provoked by Ukraine's efforts to recruit spies among Russian citizens.
The FSB said the incident was connected to the arrest of Ukrainian national Ruslan Pilipenko, "known to the FSB as an employee of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry's Main Intelligence Directorate."
The security service said Pilipenko was detained at a Russian military facility on October 29, 2009 in Tiraspol, the capital of the Moldovan breakaway republic of Transdnestr, while "performing activities to the detriment of the security interests of the Russian Armed Forces."
He was later released and deported.
MOSCOW, February 2 (RIA Novosti)
