[ad_1]
The Wagner Group, a Russian mercenary firm, has denied sending a “bloody package” containing animal eyes and a string of letter bombs to the Ukrainian embassy and several consulates in Europe.
In response to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitro Kuleba’s accusation, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova sent a one-word comment to CNN: “Crazy.”
Yevgeny Prigozin, a Russian oligarch and head of Wagner’s mercenary group, said he had nothing to do with the packages, adding that Wagner’s group “would never do something rude and stupid”.
Earlier, Kubera accused Russia of being behind a dozen letters containing explosives or animal parts sent to a series of Ukrainian diplomats.
“Think of the craziness when some hooligan sends a bomb letter or something offensive, what does this have to do with Wagner PMC,” Prigozhin said in a written reply to CNN.
Earlier in Spain, “bloody parcels” and a string of letter bombs were found, one of which injured a staff member at the Ukrainian embassy in Madrid. The incident raised suspicions about links to Russia while prompting Kyiv to call for increased security at its overseas offices, according to The Washington Post.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian foreign ministry called the “bloody package” a “well-planned” campaign of intimidation and terror.
read more: Vladimir Putin ‘falls down stairs, gets himself dirty’ at mansion: report
The packages were received at the embassies of the Netherlands, Poland, Croatia, Italy and Austria, as well as the consulates of the Czech Republic in Naples and Brno, a Ukrainian foreign ministry spokesman said.
Yevhenia Voloshchenko, a Ukrainian official in Rome, said the package received at her embassy contained a fish eye. The envelope in Brno contained “animal tissue”, Czech police said, adding that it was first checked for explosives and prompted the evacuation of nearby areas, including a kindergarten. Police said a similar package also arrived at the Ukrainian embassy in Prague, according to The Washington Post.
Separately, Ukraine’s ambassador to the Holy See said the entrance to his apartment in Rome had been vandalized and the outside stairwell, ceiling and front door were stained with “dirty things”. A spokesman for Italian police said the substance was feces.
It was unclear whether the letter bombing in Spain had any links to other events in Europe. The letter bombs were received at a string of high-profile locations, including Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s office and the U.S. embassy in Madrid, where the letters were destroyed in controlled explosions.
Meanwhile, the Russian embassy in Spain defended itself, saying it was not involved in the campaign and condemning any threats or acts of terror against diplomatic missions as “totally reprehensible”. (Arnie)
[ad_2]
Source link