Russia Demands Extradition of Ukrainian Officials Connected to Terrorist Acts

On the recent demands made by Russia, the country is demanding that Ukraine hand over all individuals connected with terrorist acts committed in Russia. The demand extends to include the head of Ukraine's SBU Security Service, according to a statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry on Sunday.

Ukrainian Response

In response, the SBU has promptly dismissed these demands as "pointless" and has highlighted the fact that an international arrest warrant has been issued against Russian leader Vladimir Putin. The SBU emphasized that Russia has "forgotten" about this warrant.

Incidents in Russia

The Russian Foreign Ministry listed various violent incidents that have occurred in Russia since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. These incidents included bombings that resulted in the death of the daughter of a prominent nationalist, an attack on a war blogger, and an incident in which a writer was seriously injured. According to the Russian ministry, the investigations into these incidents have revealed connections to Ukraine.

Russian Demands

Russia has officially turned over its demands to Ukrainian authorities for the immediate arrest and extradition of all individuals connected to the mentioned terrorist acts. Among those listed to be handed over is SBU head Vasyl Maliuk, who has acknowledged his service's involvement in attacks on the bridge linking Crimea to the Russian mainland following the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The demands from the Russian side are for the Kyiv regime to immediately cease all support for terrorist activity, extradite the guilty parties, and compensate the victims for damages, as stated in the ministry's statement.

Ukraine's Response

The Ukrainian SBU has described the demands from Russia as "particularly cynical" and emphasized that any words from the Russian Foreign Ministry are "pointless." The SBU also referred to the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court against Putin, highlighting that the tribunal in The Hague is awaiting his response.

Mass Shooting Incident

The Russian statement made reference to the recent mass shooting at a concert hall outside Moscow, where 144 people tragically lost their lives. While the Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack, Russian investigators have stated that they found evidence linking the gunmen to "Ukrainian nationalists." However, Ukraine has denied any association with the attack.