UK Foreign Office Says Kremlin Plans to Install Pro-Russian Leader in Ukraine

Russia has called the statement "disinformation."

The British Foreign Ministry said it had uncovered evidence of a conspiracy to install pro-Russian authorities in Ukraine amid Kremlin plans to invade Ukraine. 

“We have information indicating that Russian authorities are seeking to install a pro-Russian leader in Kyiv as they consider invading and occupying Ukraine. A potential candidate under consideration is former Ukrainian People's Deputy Yevgeny Muraev,” the Foreign Office said in a statement. 

The ministry has information that Russian special services maintain contacts with many former Ukrainian politicians, in particular:

• Serhiy Arbuzov — First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine in 2012-2014, acting Prime Minister in 2014
• Andriy Klyuyev — First Deputy Prime Minister in 2010-2012, head of the administration of former Ukrainian President Yanukovych
• Volodymyr Sivkovich — former Deputy Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council
• Mykola Azarov — Prime Minister in 2010-2014

The British Foreign Ministry notes that some of them “have contacts with Russian intelligence officers who are currently involved in planning an attack on Ukraine.” 

“Russia must halt its escalation, end its campaigns of aggression and disinformation, and pursue the path of diplomacy. As the UK and our partners have repeatedly stated, any military invasion of Ukraine by Russia would be a serious strategic mistake with grave consequences. The UK’s position on Ukraine is also clear. We unequivocally support its sovereignty and territorial integrity within internationally recognized borders, including Crimea,” the British Foreign Office said. 

Recall that four former Ukrainian officials named by the British Foreign Office fled Ukraine after the Revolution of Dignity. 

Yevgeny Muraev has repeatedly been involved in scandals over his pro-Russian statements. He claimed that the fighting in Donbas was allegedly a “civil conflict,” since “Russia helps the ‘DNR’ and ‘LNR’ with money, equipment and instructors, just as the US helped the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the National Guard.” 

He also called the Revolution of Dignity a “coup d’état.” In June 2018, Muraev stated that Oleg Sentsov “is a terrorist for one part of the population,” since he allegedly “was preparing arson and explosions.” 

The Prosecutor General’s Office opened a case against Muraev under the articles “treason” and “knowingly false report of a crime.” 

Later, the people’s deputy acknowledged that Sentsov’s case is political, but said he does not know whether the terrorism charges against the Ukrainian filmmaker are fair, since the Russian investigation allegedly also relies on the testimony of Ukrainian Gennady Afanasyev. Afanasyev himself long ago retracted his testimony, “because it was given under pressure.” 

Russia’s Response

The Russian Foreign Ministry called Britain’s claim that the Kremlin plans to bring a pro-Russian leader to power in Ukraine “disinformation and provocative activity.” 

“The disinformation spread by the British Foreign Office is yet another sign that it is NATO countries, led by the Anglo-Saxons, that are escalating tensions around Ukraine. We call on the British Foreign Office to stop its provocative activity, stop spreading nonsense, and focus on studying the history of the Tatar-Mongol yoke,” the statement said. 

Ukraine Ready to Invite British Troops

Ukraine’s ambassador to the UK said Kyiv is ready to ask London to deploy troops to Ukrainian territory should Vladimir Putin decide on a large-scale offensive. 

Vadym Prystaiko
Ukraine’s ambassador to the UK

If active hostilities begin, we will ask for anything, including British servicemen on our territory. 

The diplomat noted that Kyiv will ask for the intervention of its Western partners, such as the UK, in the event of war. According to him, in addition to weapons, Ukraine is ready to accept assistance from foreign military, since Russia has numerous armed forces and the Armed Forces of Ukraine need support in confronting it. 

Prystaiko added that if Moscow unleashes a war, it will be catastrophic for both Ukraine and Russia, as well as for all of Europe. That is why efforts need to be made now to prevent military action.