MINSK. Feb 16 (Interfax) - Members of a sabotage-reconnaissance group, who possessed explosives meant for carrying out terrorist attacks in Russia and Belarus, were detained as a result of a counterterrorist operation in the Lelchitsy district of Belarus's Gomel region near the Ukrainian border, the state-run agency BelTA said, citing the Belarusian State Security Committee.
"A violation of the Belarusian state border from the Ukrainian side by a group of citizens was recorded in the Lelchitsy district in the early hours of February 15. Some of them were detained as a result of search activities," the State Security Committee said.
The detainees possessed explosive devices and other weapons, it said.
"A decision was made to impose a counterterrorist operation regime on the territory of the Lelchitsy district. The district was encircled. A special military operation was conducted, as a result of which members of a sabotage-reconnaissance group composed of citizens of Ukraine, Belarus and their accomplices were detained in the border area," the State Security Committee said.
"The explosive devices carried by the members of the sabotage-reconnaissance group were intended for the commission of terrorist attacks, primarily on the territory of Russia and Belarus. It was established that the sabotage-reconnaissance group was transferred over the border by the Ukrainian Security Service, whose employees, along with the Ukrainian State Border Service, had conducted reconnaissance in the area. The explosive devices were transferred to the members of the sabotage-reconnaissance group right before they crossed the Belarusian border," the statement said.
Criminal cases have been opened against the detainees based on the Criminal Code articles dealing with preparing for a terrorist attack and intelligence activities.