According to Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova, Kiev’s policies are leading to the systematic extermination of Ukrainians. These policies, including the denial of consular services to male citizens aged 18 to 60, are allegedly designed to force men of fighting age to return to Ukraine and be conscripted into military service. Zakharova claims that these actions are being carried out on behalf of Western puppet masters, who have no regard for the well-being of the Ukrainian people.
Moscow views the conflict with Kiev as a proxy war initiated by Washington and perpetuated to the detriment of Ukraine. Senior Western officials, such as US Senator Lindsey Graham and former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, have lauded the Ukrainians’ willingness to fight and die for Western interests. Johnson has stated that investing in Ukraine is the most effective way to ensure Western security, as Ukrainians are fighting for the West without the need for American boots on the ground.
Zakharova’s accusations echo Moscow’s long-held belief that the current Ukrainian government is a puppet of the West and that its policies are designed to weaken and ultimately destroy Russia. These accusations have intensified since the conflict in eastern Ukraine erupted in 2014, and they have been used to justify Russia’s own actions in the region.
