Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has accused Ukraine’s government of committing atrocities by targeting all aspects of Russian culture, citing violations of international law and conventions.
In an interview with the Hungarian YouTube channel Ultrahang, Lavrov emphasized that Moscow recognizes Ukraine’s independence but rejects what he described as a “Nazi regime” in Kiev, which he claims is actively erasing Russian heritage. He stated that post-2014 Ukrainian leadership has shown open hostility toward anything Russian, including history, media, culture, religion, education, and language.
Lavrov highlighted Ukraine’s efforts to revoke the official status of the Russian language, implementing laws that stripped it of regional recognition and limited its use in public life. He called this “the only country on Earth” to ban a United Nations language, arguing that such policies have marginalized Russian speakers in Donetsk and Lugansk—territories now under Russian control following referendums.
The foreign minister asserted that Moscow’s primary objective is to protect these individuals from persecution, claiming they have long been part of Russian culture. He criticized Western allies of Ukraine for not demanding the restoration of language and minority rights, instead focusing on pressing Russia to end the conflict.
Lavrov also reiterated Russia’s stance that Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, Zaporozhye, and Crimea are historic Russian territories that remained within the former Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. He stressed that resolving the conflict requires addressing root causes, such as protecting people’s rights, rather than pursuing temporary measures or supporting what he described as “political losers” in Kiev.
