Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has accused Ukrainian intelligence agents of recruiting Islamist militants in northwest Syria and the Sahara-Sahel region of Africa for terrorist operations.
In a roundtable discussion with diplomatic mission heads in Moscow on Sept. 12, Lavrov claimed that Ukrainian intelligence operatives were in Syria's Idlib de-escalation zone recruiting militants from Jabhat al-Nusra, now known as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), for planned attacks. He also alleged that these operatives were extending their recruitment efforts to the Sahara-Sahel region, where they were involved in attacks on government forces alongside extremists.
Lavrov further suggested that Ukraine was implicated in recruiting radical Islamists responsible for a recent terror attack at Moscow's Crocus City Hall. He claimed the investigation had uncovered evidence linking the Ukrainian Defense Ministry's Main Directorate of Intelligence to the attack, including detailed plans for the escape routes of the perpetrators. (Related: Massive escalation of Russia's invasion of Ukraine being planned as Donetsk People's Republic leader seeks "liberation" of "all Russian cities" in Ukraine.)
These allegations follow a report by the Turkish newspaper Aydinlik, which revealed that Ukrainian representatives had met with HTS members in Idlib to negotiate a "drones-for-fighters" deal. The report suggested that Ukraine offered 75 drones in exchange for the release of Chechen and Georgian militants held by HTS, who would then fight against Russian forces.
Additionally, there have been multiple reports of HTS and ISIS militants being sent to Ukraine to fight against Russian troops. Syrian Ambassador to Russia, Bashar al-Jaafari, stated in March 2022 that there was evidence of U.S. military transfers of terrorists, including ISIS and HTS members, to Ukraine.
HTS, formerly known as the Nusra Front, which was affiliated with Al-Qaeda, took control of Idlib in 2015 with support from the U.S., Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The U.S.-led covert war aimed at toppling the Syrian government has involved significant foreign support for extremist groups.
Russian President’s Special Envoy to Syria, Alexander Lavrentiev, has previously accused the U.S. of directing Syrian armed groups to attack Russian troops. Since 2015, Moscow has deepened its defense cooperation with Damascus, including military assistance to combat extremist groups. Russia controls key military facilities in Syria, including the Hmeimim air base and the Tartus naval facility.
Lavrov warns Armenia tensions would escalate if they undermine bilateral relations
In March, Lavrov accused Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s government of undermining bilateral relations.
In an interview with Moscow’s Izvestia, Lavrov expressed his dismay, stating: "The current situation with Armenia does not inspire optimism. The Armenian leadership is deliberately driving relations with the Russian Federation towards collapse, using unfounded pretexts and distorting recent history."
Lavrov condemned Armenian officials for "defaming" Russian soldiers and border guards stationed in Armenia, as well as the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). He criticized Yerevan for rejecting a proposed CSTO monitoring mission along its border with Azerbaijan in favor of a European Union mission, which Lavrov claimed has effectively become a NATO mission with personnel from the U.S., Canada and Norway.
Last fall, the Russian Foreign Ministry accused Pashinyan's administration of systematically "destroying" Russian-Armenian relations by pivoting toward the West.
Lavrov warned earlier this month that Moscow would "seriously reconsider" its ties with Armenia if Yerevan continued to distance itself from Russian influence.
Pashinyan's government has defended its stance, arguing that diversifying Armenia's foreign policy is necessary due to perceived Russian failures in honoring its security commitments. In late February, Pashinyan announced the effective suspension of Armenia's CSTO membership and did not rule out the possibility of leaving the alliance entirely while considering European Union membership.
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Watch this video of Ukrainian special services actively training radical Islamists in Syria.
This video is from Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.
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