Russia says new EU sanctions risk ending security cooperation

Russia said July 26 that new European Union sanctions targeting Russian intelligence chiefs over its role in Ukraine risked ending all joint cooperation on security.

The European Union "has practically speaking put at risk international cooperation in the area of security," the Russian foreign ministry said in an angry response.

The EU on Saturday announced it had broadened its list of Russian officials facing targeted sanctions to include the head of the FSB security service, Alexander Bortnikov, and the head of the Foreign Intelligence Service, Mikhail Fradkov.

It also included the head of Russia’s national security council, Nikolai Patrushev who is a former head of the FSB.

"The additional sanctions list is a direct testimony that European Union countries have chosen a course towards fully rolling back cooperation with Russia in matters of international and regional security," Moscow said.

It cited the worsening situation in Afghanistan, the Middle East and North Africa.

Russia called the fresh sanctions "irresponsible", adding that the effect of the penalties "will be enthusiastically welcomed by international terrorism".

Mayor of central Ukrainian city shot dead

Meanwhile, the mayor of the central Ukrainian town of Kremenchuk was shot dead on July 26 and the house of another mayor in Lviv to the West was hit by fire from a grenade launcher, the Interior Ministry said. 

Ukraine, fighting pro-Russian rebels in its east and dealing with the aftermath of an airliner crash, has undergone turmoil since November, when thousands protested against former President Viktor Yanukovich. He was toppled by the "Maidan" protests but areas of the country remain divided. 

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