Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy added to Russia’s wanted list | Global News

Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, along with his predecessor Petro Poroshenko and General Oleksandr Pavlyuk, according to Russian state media reports. The allegations against the men have not been clarified by Russian officials, but media outlets claim they have been on the list since late February.

Ukraine’s foreign ministry has dismissed the reports as propaganda from the Russian state machine, calling it a desperate move. The wanted list also includes officials and lawmakers from Ukraine and NATO countries, including Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, who has advocated for increased military aid to Kyiv and stronger sanctions against Moscow.

Russia’s laws criminalize the “rehabilitation of Nazism,” which includes punishing the desecration of war memorials. The list also includes cabinet ministers from Estonia and Lithuania, as well as the International Criminal Court prosecutor who prepared a warrant for President Vladimir Putin on war crimes charges last year.

The Kremlin has repeatedly tried to link Ukraine’s leaders to Nazism, despite the country having a democratically elected Jewish president with relatives who perished in the Holocaust. Many Ukrainians aim to strengthen democracy, reduce corruption, and move closer to the West.

The situation between Russia and Ukraine continues to escalate, with accusations of terrorist activities and drone strikes on Russian infrastructure. The international community is closely monitoring the developments as tensions rise between the two countries.