MOSCOW: Russia has added Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to its list of wanted criminals, a move Kyiv rejected as a sign of Moscow’s “desperation”.
Zelensky’s name appeared on the Russian interior ministry’s “wanted” list on Saturday, listed alongside alleged criminals sought by Russian authorities under unspecified charges.
While Russian officials did not immediately provide reasons for adding Zelensky to the list, Ukraine’s foreign ministry swiftly dismissed the action as indicative of the “desperation of the Russian state machine and propaganda,” suggesting that Moscow was resorting to drastic measures to attract attention.
The targeting of Zelensky by Moscow comes amidst heightened tensions between Russia and Ukraine, exacerbated by Russia’s military offensive in Ukraine which began in February 2022. Zelensky himself has revealed that he has been the target of multiple assassination attempts, with at least “five or six” plots foiled.
Notably, Russian President Vladimir Putin openly called for the Ukrainian army to overthrow Zelensky in a televised address to the nation following the deployment of Russian troops into Ukraine.
Zelensky’s addition to Russia’s wanted list is not an isolated incident; Moscow has previously targeted foreign politicians and public figures, with the list containing tens of thousands of entries. Among those listed alongside Zelensky were Oleksandr Pavliuk, the commander of Ukraine’s Land Forces, and former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.
This move echoes Russia’s pattern of using its wanted list to exert pressure on individuals and nations with whom it is in conflict. Earlier this year, Moscow sought Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, accusing her of the “desecration of historical memory” over Estonia’s decision to remove Soviet-era monuments.
Furthermore, tensions between Russia and Ukraine have escalated on the international stage, with the International Criminal Court issuing an arrest warrant for Putin on war crimes charges related to the abduction of Ukrainian children. These allegations have been vehemently denied by Moscow.
