Zelensky pulls rug from under Putin as shocking FSB plot foiled hours before mission

Ukraine: Russia 'may be pushed back to starting line' says Hodges

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The Security Service of Ukraine has successfully foiled a plot by the Russian security service (FSB) to sabotage the Ukrainian independence day celebrations. Ukraine is currently celebrating 31 years of independence from the Soviet Union, and mourning six months since the Russian invasion began. Kyiv has banned mass celebrations to mark Independence Day on Wednesday, as President Volodymyr Zelensky urged citizens to be alert to the possibility of Russian strikes.

The move comes “in order to ensure the safety of citizens,” and events must “provide for the possibility of sheltering participants” in the case of air raid alerts.

The ban comes after President Zelensky warned that Moscow could try “something particularly nasty” in the run-up to the anniversary.

The Ukrainian Security Service has now revealed the FSB planned to stage “protest actions” to undermine Independence Day in Kyiv, Zhytomyr, and Poltava.

The pseudo-protest was intended to involve “demonstrators” actively condemning the military command of Ukraine on Tuesday.

The demonstration would then have been filmed and the footage pumped around Russia and Ukraine as part of the Kremlin’s propaganda.

The architect of the FSB plot is reportedly Kyrylo Stremousov – the Russian-appointed deputy head of the Kherson Oblast.

In an emotional speech to mark the anniversary, President Zelensky vowed his nation would “fight until the end”.

Speaking in his national address, he insisted his country would not be making “any concession or compromise” to Moscow.

He added: “We don’t care what army you have, we only care about our land. We will fight for it until the end.

“A new nation appeared in the world on February 24 at four in the morning. It was not born, but reborn.

“A nation that did not cry, scream or take fright. One that did not flee. Did not give up. And did not forget.

“What for us is the end of the war? We used to say: peace. Now we say: victory.”

The developments come as Russian morale falters amid squalid living conditions, minimal military progress, and a shortage of munitions, vehicles and personnel.

The British Ministry of Defence released an intelligence briefing that detailed Putin’s “failures” and the need for Russian forces to establish more “modest objectives in eastern and southern Ukraine” after failing to topple the Government and capture Kyiv.

The briefing, released on Wednesday, explained: “Russia launched a full invasion of Ukraine six months ago, with the aim of toppling the government and occupying most of the country.

“By April, Russia’s leaders realised this had failed, and reverted to more modest objectives in eastern and southern Ukraine.

“The Donbas offensive is making minimal progress and Russia anticipates a major Ukrainian counterattack.

“Operationally, Russia is suffering from shortages of munitions, vehicles and personnel.

“Morale is poor in many parts of its military and its army is significantly degraded.

“Its diplomatic power has been diminished and its long-term economic outlook is bleak.

“Six months in and Russia’s war has proven both costly and strategically harmful.”

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