Moscow said Monday it had arrested members of a “neo-Nazi terrorist” institution in Russia who allegedly planned to assassinate pro  Kremlin TV anchor Vladimir Solovyov on orders from Ukraine.

“The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation detained a collection of participants of the neo-Nazi terrorist agency National Socialism/White Power, that’s banned in Russia,” Russia’s FSB safety company stated in an assertion carried by using information groups, adding that those arrested are Russian residents.

The FSB claimed the group was planning the “murder” of Russian TV and radio journalist Solovyov “on the instructions of the Security Service of Ukraine”.

It added that the group “confessed to preparing the murder of Solovyov, after which they planned to flee abroad”.

According to the FSB, “fake” Ukrainian passports, arms, drugs and an improvised explosive device were found during a search of the detainees’ homes.

Speaking at a meeting of Russian prosecutors, President Vladimir Putin suggested Washington was involved in planning the “murder of a famous Russian TV journalist”, without naming him.

“They have resorted to terror! To prepare the murders of our journalists. We know by name the curators of Western secret services, primarily, of course, from the CIA, who work with the security agencies of Ukraine,” Putin said in televised remarks.

“Apparently they give such advice (to kill journalists). So much for their attitude towards the rights of journalists… (and) human rights in general,” Putin added.

A staunch supporter of Putin and Russia’s navy marketing campaign in Ukraine, Solovyov is beneath EU sanctions for spreading country “propaganda”.