Putin claims FSB foiled western plot to kill pro-Kremlin journalist

Tass said the security services seized a number of weapons as well as eight molotov cocktails and six pistols during the arrest of the group.

The FSB also released a number of images containing what they claimed were items seized from the group during the raid, which included Ukrainian passports, several Nazi symbols, a portrait of Adolf Hitler and, bizarrely, three discs containing the Sims video game.

Citing the FSB, RIA Novosti said the group was also discussing attacks on the head of the RT news network, Margarita Simonyan, and the pro-Kremlin TV presenter Dmitry Kiselyov as well as other prominent state journalists.

The FSB frequently claims to foil terrorist acts plotted by what it says are far-right groups acting on behalf of Ukraine, without providing much evidence to support their allegations.

Putin on Monday further said that the west was attempting to destroy Russia from the inside.