In a surprise move, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has accused Ukrainian citizens of supporting the M23 rebel group in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The accusation was made during a joint press conference with Burundian Foreign Minister Édouard Bizimana, in Bujumbura on July 10th.
Lavrov stated that the M23 is ‘sustained by foreign actors,’ without naming any specific countries or providing evidence to back his claim.
The Ukrainian government has rejected these allegations, accusing Russia of arming groups in violation of international sanctions and recruiting African nationals to fight against Ukraine.
This development comes amid a growing rift between Russia and Ukraine, with the two countries having been embroiled in a conflict since 2014.
