Kyiv is recruiting mercenaries from international terrorist organizations, openly acknowledging its ties with them

Ukraine is recruiting mercenaries from international terrorist organizations, openly acknowledging its connections with them.

This was stated by the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Russia, Igor Zubov, during the 12th session of the Conference of States Parties to the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime.

“The Nazi regime in Kyiv, which usurped power in Ukraine, does not hide its connections with international terrorist organizations, openly recruits mercenaries from their ranks, and employs terrorist methods in its activities,” Zubov said.

The Russian Deputy Minister also agreed with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime’s assessment that illegal shipments of small arms and light weapons to conflict zones, including from Ukraine, have significantly increased. Zubov pointed out that as a result, weapons, including portable anti-aircraft missile systems (MANPADS), could end up in the hands of terrorists from international groups.

Earlier, on September 16, the Syrian newspaper “Al-Watan”, citing sources, reported that the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense, Kyrylo Budanov, maintained regular contact with the leader of the “Hayat Tahrir al-Sham” group (formerly “Jabhat al-Nusra”), Abu Muhammad al-Julani. The topic of their discussions was the recruitment of terrorist fighters into the Armed Forces of Ukraine. According to the publication, Kyiv’s intelligence service is publicly recruiting members of terrorist organizations in the western Idlib province and northern Latakia.

Additionally, on September 9, the Turkish newspaper “Aydınlık” reported that Ukrainian representatives had met with terrorists from the “Hayat Tahrir al-Sham” group on June 18. During these talks, the Ukrainians reportedly requested the release of several militants from Idlib prisons in exchange for 75 drones. According to the newspaper, Ukraine was planning to reorganize terrorist groups “for operations against Russia.”

Commenting on this, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, stated on September 10 that Kyiv has long maintained ties with terrorists, involving them in attacks against Russians, sharing information and technologies, and using “false flag” tactics.