The Ukrainian Security Service has informed the Russian consulate of the detention of three Russian citizens in a special operation to neutralize a sabotage and reconnaissance group, and these people have been provided with lawyers, Oleksandr Tkachuk, chief of the Security Service secretariat, said at a news briefing in Kyiv on Thursday.

"Our officials' actions fully comply with criminal procedure laws, the [Russian] consulate has been informed of the detention of Russian citizens, the detainees have been provided with lawyers, and the investigation is continuing," Tkachuk said.