The UK accuses Russia of wanting to replace the government in Ukraine

The UK government has openly accused the Russian government of working hard to put a pro-Russian leader in the government of Ukraine. According to the British Foreign Office, the person Russia is considering is Yevhen Murrayev, a former Ukrainian MP who has on numerous occasions defended the legality of Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea.

It is unusual for a government to make such accusations public, demonstrating the strong tensions in recent weeks with Russia, many Western European countries and the United States, which increasingly see the Russian invasion of Ukraine as concrete and realistic. However, the allegations have not been substantiated with sufficient evidence and have caused many to stir doubts on its reliability.

British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss He said: «The information we are publishing today [sabato sera, ndr] They show how intense Russian activities are aimed at overthrowing Ukraine, a way of understanding how the Kremlin thinks. ” Truss then demanded that Russia avoid a dangerous escalation, put an end to its “campaigns of aggression and disinformation, and return to the path of diplomacy.”

In addition to Murrayev, the British Foreign Office cited Four other Ukrainian politicians, accused of having close ties with Russian intelligence. Some of these would have cooperated actively in order to determine the plan of the invasion. Among them was Mykola Azarov, Deputy Prime Minister during the pro-Russian presidency of Viktor Yanukovych, which ended with the 2014 revolution. Azarov then moved to Russia where he attempted to form a government-in-exile.

The Russian Foreign Ministry has unacceptable These accusations accuse the British government of “circulating false news” and demanding an end to the “spread of nonsense” and the use of “provocative activities”.

Morev hung The news that the UK government “looks confused”: “It doesn’t make sense to me. I’m banned in Russia. Not only that, but they also confiscated money from my parents’ business.” Murrayev owns a number of TV channels, and in 2019 he lost his seat In Parliament, after the disappointing election result of his party.

In the last period, the Russian government has amassed more than 100,000 soldiers and weapons along the border with Ukraine. Ukrainian intelligence services and various Western countries believe that the Russian government may decide to invade Ukrainian territory in the first months of 2022, despite diplomatic efforts made so far to avoid a military operation.

Russia Care It is planning an invasion, but its president, Vladimir Putin, is demanding that NATO withdraw its forces from Bulgaria, Romania and other ex-communist states in Eastern Europe that joined NATO after 1997, as well as renounce Ukraine’s accession to the organization. The United States is calling for the withdrawal of tens of thousands of Russian soldiers massed on Ukraine’s eastern border. Both sides seem to consider the proposals unacceptable and the situation is increasingly worrying.

The United States allowed Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to transfer Stinger (anti-aircraft) missiles to Ukrainian forces, and boosted arms deliveries to Ukraine. Russia sent new troops and weapons to Belarus, Russia’s ally and Ukraine’s neighbor, arguing that the moves were justified by a joint military exercise with the Belarusian army.

NATO countries argue that a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine could incur “heavy costs” for Russia, but it is not yet clear what they plan to do depending on the attack.