Russia accuses Israeli mercenaries of operating in Ukraine

Spokesperson of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova – Photo: VNA

“Mercenary Israel in fact fighting alongside Azov fighters in Ukraine,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova confirmed in an interview with Russia’s Sputnik news agency on May 4.

Also according to Ms. Zakharova, Ukraine is constantly changing the requirements in negotiations and always blames and blames Russia for deadlocked negotiations.

The Azov Battalion emerged in 2014 with an initial composition of Ukrainian far-rights and alleged neo-Nazis. This force has been fighting pro-Russian separatist forces in the Donbass region.

The Azov Battalion was later merged, becoming part of the Ukrainian armed forces and stationed in the city of Mariupol. Several hundred fighters from the Azov battalion are believed to be still entrenched inside the underground bunker of the Azovstal metallurgical complex, which is considered the last point of resistance for Ukrainian forces in Mariupol.

According to AFP news agency, Russia’s accusations that Israelis are fighting with the Azov battalion is a sign that diplomatic tensions between Russia and Ukraine have not yet subsided.

The controversy erupted last weekend after Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Nazi leader Adolf Hitler was of Jewish origin. During World War II, at least 6 million Jews and other minorities in Europe were murdered by the Nazis.

Lavrov’s comments thus caused outrage in Israel. Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid called the statement “unforgivable” and a “terrible historical mistake”.

The Russian Foreign Ministry later defended Lavrov’s statement and countered by accusing Israel of supporting neo-Nazi forces in Ukraine.

According to the ministry, although Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is of Jewish descent, that does not mean neo-fascism does not exist in Ukraine.

Israel has not yet responded to Russia’s new accusations. During the early stages of the conflict in Ukraine, Tel Aviv tried to remain neutral while avoiding condemning Russia’s military actions like other countries.

The country’s prime minister, Naftali Bennett, secretly visited Russia in early March, becoming the first foreign leader to meet President Vladimir Putin after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The trip is said to promote peace talks and ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.