Intelligence: Russian Secret Services Preparing Mass Disorders In Odesa On May 2 And May 9

The Intelligence Department of the Defense Ministry of Ukraine says Russian secret services are organizing provocations to spark mass disturbances in Odesa on May 2 and May 9.

The press service of the Defense Ministry's Main Intelligence Department has said this in a statement, Ukrainian News Agency reports.

"According to information available, special services of the Russian Federation are preparing provocative anti-Ukrainian events in Odesa region under the guise of commemoration of victims of the events in Odesa of 2014 (May 2) and celebration of the Victory Day (May 9). It is planned that participants in the events will be provoking collisions with pro-Ukrainian activists and officers of law enforcement agencies. The events will be covered by Russian media and described as aggravation of the conflict in the south of Ukraine," reads the statement.

A goal of the provocative events is damage to the international image of Ukraine in the contest of the Eurovision 2017 international song contest in Kyiv.

According to the statement, Russian media are preparing provocative reports from Novoazovsk, Donetsk region, about "possible offensive of the ATO forces" on May 9.

As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, the Security Service of Ukraine says it is ready to respond to provocations during the May holidays in Odesa.