West used to using extremists to its advantage against Russia: Putin

• 

The West never minded using extremists to serve its interests, and it always used what it had at hand against Russia, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday told an extended meeting of the Russian Federal Security Service.

"[Western countries] have never minded using both radicals and extremists in their interests, despite all the loud statements about the fight against international terrorism. They always use what is at hand against us, what they can use," Putin said.

This comes weeks after Danish broadcaster DRTV published footage of a Ukrainian soldier in his military uniform, wearing what appeared to be an ISIS logo as a patch.

During a news report covering the updates on Ukraine, the TV reporter caught on video two Ukrainian servicemen wearing their military uniforms, one of which was wearing the patch.

Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service said on (SVR) said the US defense is recruiting fighters to plot and execute terrorist attacks on Russian soil and that of CIS countries (such as Kazakhstan, Belarus, and Uzbekistan). 

"According to credible data received by the Foreign Intelligence Service of Russia, the US military is actively recruiting militants from jihadist groups affiliated with the Daesh* and Al-Qaeda* to carry out terrorist attacks in Russia and the CIS countries. Particular attention is paid to attracting people from the Russian North Caucasus and Central Asia to cooperation," the SVR statement read.

This is not the first time the SVR uncovers the US' devious plans in doing dirty work to get the job done. 

According to the SVR, ISIS members are being recruited by the US to act as mercenaries in Ukraine to "target sabotage against the Russian Armed Forces in Ukraine."

Additionally, Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Bashar Al-Jaafari told Sputnik in March 2022 that US special services could be sending ISIS militants and Jabhat Al-Nusra (Al-Nusra Front) militants to Ukraine. 

"Based on the analysis, we can say that this is quite possibly true. We, as a state, have evidence that the US military in Syria is transferring terrorists from one place to another, especially members of the IS and Jabhat al-Nusra [terrorist group banned in Russia]," Al-Jaafari said then.

Furthermore, the Russian leader highlighted the need for Moscow to constantly monitor Russia's critical infrastructure, densely-populated areas, firms within the defense sector, and the energy sector.

"It is necessary to constantly monitor the objects of critical infrastructure, densely-populated areas, transport hubs, defense industry, and energy companies," Putin underlined.

Finally, Russian President Vladimir Putin instructed the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) to take special control of the Russian-Ukrainian border.

"The Russian-Ukrainian section of the state border should be under special control of the FSB Border Service," Putin concluded during the meeting.

He underlined that it was "necessary to continue to help the armed forces and the National Guard in the course of the special military operation, including by means of providing counter-reconnaissance support to army units, swift exchange of important tactical information."