The tension between Russia and Ukraine is escalating as both countries exchanged sharp statements over allegations of interference in Nigeria’s domestic affairs.
The Russian Government on Friday issued a stern warning to the United States, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom for accusing it of sponsoring protests in Nigeria.
Russia, in a release, said the countries should rather be blamed for attempting to interfere in Nigeria’s internal affairs and undermine its bilateral relations with Russia.
The warning comes amid growing concerns over foreign influence following the October 1st protests across Nigeria.
According to the embassy, figures such as the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken; a former Director of the British Council in Nigeria, David Roberts; and Ukraine’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Ivan Kholostenko, suggested that the presence of Russian flags in recent protests was evidence of Russia’s interference.
“I would like to share with you our note to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria, which we sent at the end of September when there were rumors of potential unrest in Nigeria, and the embassies of the USA, the UK, and Ukraine were prematurely trying to blame Russia for it. As expected, all these claims turned out to be fabrications and attempts to create discord between the friendly peoples of Russia and Nigeria.
“The Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Federal Republic of Nigeria has taken note of the media reports circulating about possible protests in Nigeria at the beginning of October this year.
“The embassy is also dismayed by the fact that certain Western and Ukrainian media outlets are attempting to preemptively accuse Russia of involvement in, or even organising such unrest.
“In particular, statements by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, former Director of the British Council in Nigeria David Roberts, and the Ambassador of Ukraine to Nigeria Ivan Kholostenko have shamelessly and baselessly suggested that the use of Russian flags during recent protests is evidence of Russia’s interference and have further warned that this could happen again in the future,” the statement read in part.
In response to Russia’s warning, Ukraine’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Ivan Kholostenko, issued a statement, condemning the Russian regime and its actions on the global stage.
Kholostenko described Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, as an “unprovoked and unjustified aggressive war” aimed at fully occupying Ukraine and erasing its national identity.
“Ukraine knows perfectly well what the Russian regime is. And we would like to refer to the truthful facts.
“The truth is that the Russian army commits awful and numerous war crimes and atrocities in the territory of Ukraine every day. Russians kill, rape and torture civilians, including women and children,” Kholostenko said.
The Press and Media Specialist, US Embassy in Abuja, Aishah Gambari, promised to respond to the claims of the Russian government.
She had yet to do so as of the time of filing this report.
