Russia adds Ukrainian President Zelenskyy to its list of wanted individuals

Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, along with his predecessor Petro Poroshenko and Ukraine’s ground forces commander, Gen. Oleksandr Pavlyuk, according to Russian state media reports on Saturday.

The allegations against the men were not immediately clarified by Russian officials, but independent Russian news outlet Mediazona claimed that Zelenskyy and Poroshenko had been on the wanted list since at least late February.

In response to the reports, Ukraine’s foreign ministry dismissed them as evidence of “the desperation of the Russian state machine and propaganda.”

The wanted list also includes officials and lawmakers from Ukraine and NATO countries, including Kaja Kallas, the prime minister of NATO and EU member Estonia, who has been a vocal advocate for increased military aid to Ukraine and stronger sanctions against Moscow.

Russia has laws criminalizing the “rehabilitation of Nazism” and has charged individuals for actions it deems as supporting Nazism or terrorism. The Kremlin has repeatedly tried to link Ukraine’s leaders to Nazism, despite Ukraine having a democratically elected Jewish president and efforts to strengthen democracy and reduce corruption.

The allegations and wanted list are part of Russia’s narrative of “de-Nazification, de-militarization, and a neutral status” for Ukraine, which it claims is the goal of its military operation in the country.

Historians have noted Russia’s attempts to reframe historical truths about World War II, emphasizing the Soviet role in defeating the Nazis while downplaying any collaboration or crimes committed by Soviet forces. This narrative has been used to legitimize Russia’s actions in Ukraine and bolster its national identity.

The situation continues to escalate tensions between Russia and Ukraine, with implications for international relations and security in the region.