KIEV: Ukraine’s new Western-backed leaders on Thursday blamed Russian agents and the ousted pro-Kremlin president for organizing two days of carnage in Kiev that killed nearly 90 supporters of closer EU ties.

The explosive allegation were leveled only moments after Russia lashed out at NATO for building up the defenses of ex-Soviet nations and brandished the threat of further hikes in the price Ukraine must pay for gas after ousting its Kremlin-backed leaders.

The February unrest in Kiev has left deep scars on a nation trying to overcome the most trying episode in its post-Soviet history.

The furious battle for Ukraine’s future between Moscow and the West has exposed the deep divide that splits the nation of 46 million between those who see themselves as either culturally tied to Russia and or a part of a broader Europe.

Those tensions exploded on Feb. 18 when gunshots in the heart of Kiev heralded the start of nearly three days of pitch battles between riot police and protesters — some armed with nothing more than metal shield — that killed scores dead.

Ukraine’s acting interior minister on Thursday accused deposed pro-Kremlin President Viktor Yanukovych of issuing the “criminal order” to fire at protesters during February unrest in Kiev.

“Yanukovych issed the criminal order... to open fire against protesters on February 18-20,” acting Interior Minister Arsen Avakov told reporters.

Also on Thursday, the UN food agency said that world food prices reached their highest level for 10 months in March due to poor weather in major producing countries and the crisis in Ukraine, a top grain exporter.

The Rome-based Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said its monthly food price index rose by 4.4 points to 212.8 points — an increase of 2.3 percent from February and the highest level since May 2013.

“The index was influenced, as expected, by unfavorable weather conditions in the US and Brazil and geopolitical tensions in the Black Sea region,” FAO senior economist Abdolreza Abbassian said.