Russia says French military instructors in Ukraine would be ‘legitimate targets’

release: April 6, 2024 – 19:15

1 minute

France No military personnel have been officially sent to assist or train the Ukrainian army Ukraine Currently, but Kyiv Last week, it said it was working with Paris about this issue.

“Whatever label they are given, whether they are members of the French armed forces or mercenaries, they are absolutely legitimate targets of our armed forces,” the Russian foreign minister said. Sergey Lavrov Said at a press conference.

this Kremlin Likewise, he did not rule out a strike against foreign teachers in Ukraine when asked about it earlier on Tuesday.

“Any instructor who was involved in the training of the Ukrainian regime does not have any immunity. It doesn’t matter if they are French or not,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters at a briefing.

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Ukrainian Army Chief of Staff Oleksandr Sersky said last week French Army The instructors were expected to arrive in the country soon – but Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense was quick to deny this.

“French people, do not repeat the mistakes of your ancestors,” read a poster posted at a bus stop outside the French Embassy in Moscow on Tuesday.

They showed a black-and-white photo of a soldier wearing a beret with the French tricolor flag on his arm, and claimed that the photo represented a Frenchman “standing on the side of France against Russia.” Nazi“.

Moscow has repeatedly and unfoundedly claimed that the Kiev regime is “neo-Nazi” and that it is fighting to liberate Ukraine from fascism – claims rejected by Kiev and the West.

French President Emmanuel Macron Refuse to exclude Sending troops to Ukraineeven if others are unwilling NATO members and strong condemnation from Moscow.

Russia has warned against such a move, arguing it would sharply escalate the conflict.

It has repeatedly vowed to destroy Western military hardware shipped to the country.

(AFP)