Russia's FSB Says Top Officer Went to Kiev for 'Security'

Russia's top intelligence agency admitted Saturday that a high-ranking officer was in Kiev during February bloodshed, but said he was there to ensure "security" of the Russian embassy.

"We confirm that (FSB general) Sergei Beseda was in Kiev on February 20-21... to determine the level of security necessary for the Russian embassy in Ukraine and other Russian facilities in Kiev," Russian agencies quoted a source in the powerful Federal Security Service (FSB) agency as saying.

The officer met with the SBU Ukrainian intelligence agency and requested to meet President Viktor Yanukovych, but the request was denied, the source said. He had "no other orders" in course of the two-day visit.

The comments came two days after Ukrainian authorities blamed Russian agents for being behind sniper shootings during the February protests that killed nearly 90 people.

Ukrainian Security Service head Valentyn Nalyvaichenko said the FSB "took part in both the planning and execution of the so-called anti-terrorist operation," and Ukraine's foreign ministry demanded that Beseda be questioned about the reasons for his visit to Kiev on February 20.

Moscow has blamed the radical opposition in Kiev for the shooting deaths.