MOSCOW

Russia on Tuesday accused Kyiv of plotting a series of sabotage acts to further blame Moscow and provoke a direct conflict between NATO and Russia.

The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) said in a statement that under the guidance of Western intelligence, Kyiv is preparing an explosion of a foreign vessel in the Baltic Sea and attacks on the Russian opposition politicians and entrepreneurs living abroad.

"In particular, it is planned to use Russian-made naval mines at Ukraine's disposal to organize the detonation of a foreign vessel in the Baltic Sea. ... Moscow will be blamed for this," it said.

The SVR alleged that Ukrainian and Western intelligence agencies hope that such actions will prompt the NATO leadership to close Russia's access to the Baltic Sea under the pretext of ensuring the safety of maritime navigation.

"According to information received by the SVR, the Ukrainian special services, with the assistance of their Western curators, are preparing to carry out a series of high-profile anti-Russian provocations in the near future," the statement added.

The Russian intelligence further claimed that Ukraine plans to hire people from Asian and Middle Eastern countries as performers of assaults on Russian opposition politicians and entrepreneurs living abroad to split Russia with the leadership of those countries.

It added that perpetrators will be paid up to $20,000 for the attack, and that in case of arrest, they must say they were acting at the order of the Russian special services.

"Kyiv's goal is to draw the Alliance (NATO) into a direct armed conflict with the Russian Federation," the SVR concluded.