Ten people have been detained in a special operation against sabotage groups in Odesa, Ukrainian Security Service chief Valentyn Nalyvaichenko said.

"A special operation has been conducted as part of efforts against sabotage groups in Odesa, in which ten people were detained. Security Service chief Valentyn Nalyvaichenko reported this to the president. The detainees were preparing an act of provocation," presidential press secretary Sviatoslav Tseholko said on Facebook on Tuesday evening.

Weapons and explosives have been seized from those detained, the report says.

The Security Service will conduct a press conference on the matter.