Russia’s top government investigative body said on Saturday it was reviewing a Russian media report alleging that British Special Air Service (SAS) special forces sabotage experts had been deployed to western Ukraine.
The Special Air Service is an elite military force trained to carry out special operations, surveillance, and counter-terrorism. According to the Russian news agency RIA Novosti, a Russian security source reportedly said that about 20 SAS members were deployed in the Lviv region.
The Russian Investigative Committee said, in a statement, that it would follow up on the information that members of the SAS were sent “to help the Ukrainian special services organize sabotage acts on the territory of Ukraine.”
The British Ministry of Defense did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the Russian investigation.
The UK said it sent military trainers to Ukraine earlier this year to guide local forces in the use of anti-tank weapons, but the British government said on February 17 – a week before the Russian invasion – it had withdrawn all but those troops. Essential to protect your ambassador.
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