Ukraine denies attempted troop invasion of Crimea

KIEV - Ukraine on Wednesday denied a statement by the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) on Ukrainian troops attempting to invade Crimea and plotting terror attacks on the peninsula.

"The FSB's statement does not correspond to reality," the Ukrainian Defence Ministry said.

The ministry has described the FSB's statement as an "attempt by Russia to justify the redeployment of its military units" in Crimea.

Earlier in the day, the FSB said in a statement that during the weekend it prevented several groups of armed "saboteurs," who were members of the Ukrainian Defence Ministry's intelligence forces, from invading Crimea.

A FSB officer and a Russian serviceman were killed in clashes with the "saboteurs", the statement said.

The armed groups were preparing terror attacks on the peninsula's infrastructure, which were aimed at destabilizing the social and political situation in Crimea on the eve of federal and regional elections, read the statement.

Last week, the Ukrainian State Border Service said that Russia is building up troops levels along the contact line separating Crimea and Ukraine's southern Kherson region. Russia has not made official comments on the claim.

The autonomous republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol were absorbed into Russia in March 2014 following a referendum, which was recognized by Moscow but rejected by Kiev.