Russia accuses Ukraine of blowing up one of its gas pumping stations in 'act of terrorism'

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia on Friday accused Ukraine of blowing up a major Russian gas pumping and measuring station in the Kursk region near the Ukrainian border in what it called "an act of terrorism."

Russia's Investigative Committee, which probes serious crimes, said in a statement it had opened a criminal case over the incident which it said had done "significant damage" to the facility near the town of Sudzha.

The Ukrainian military has denied involvement in the attack.

The facility, once used by Gazprom to export gas via Ukraine to Europe, is in a region largely recaptured by Russian forces this week after heavy fighting with Ukrainian troops who had held it since last year.

(Reporting by Reuters; Writing by Anastasia Teterevleva; Editing by Andrew Osborn)