Ukrainian President Zelenskyy added to Russia’s wanted list – Queen City News

Russian state media reported on Saturday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been placed on Russia’s wanted list, along with his predecessor Petro Poroshenko and Ukraine’s ground forces commander, Gen. Oleksandr Pavlyuk. The allegations against them have not been clarified by Russian officials.

Mediazona, an independent Russian news outlet, claimed that Zelenskyy and Poroshenko have been on the wanted list since late February. However, Ukraine’s foreign ministry dismissed these reports as propaganda from the Russian state machine.

The wanted list also includes officials and lawmakers from Ukraine and NATO countries, such as Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, who has advocated for increased military aid to Ukraine and stronger sanctions against Russia. Russia claims Kallas is wanted for removing Soviet-era monuments in Estonia, which Moscow sees as a form of “de-Nazification.”

The Kremlin has repeatedly tried to link Ukraine’s leaders to Nazism, despite Ukraine having a democratically elected Jewish president. Russia’s “special military operation” in Ukraine aims for “de-Nazification, de-militarization, and a neutral status” for Ukraine, according to Moscow.

Historians note that Russia’s focus on World War II and the Soviet Union’s role in defeating the Nazis is a key part of its national identity. However, Russia has been accused of downplaying Soviet-era crimes and collaboration with the Nazis while exaggerating its role in the war.

The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues to be fueled by historical narratives and geopolitical tensions, with both sides presenting contrasting views on the situation.