Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has declared that Moscow will intensify its military campaign in Ukraine and destroy every element used by Western allies to sustain Kyiv’s war effort.
The minister cited recent Ukrainian attacks that caused mass civilian casualties, including incidents in Starobelsk in May and Gelendzhik earlier this month, as deliberate acts of terrorism.
Lavrov stated: “We will not sink to their level. Instead, we will adopt much harsher methods to destroy everything that enables the West to fuel Kiev’s war machine.”
He condemned Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky for his decision to launch a 40-day “pressure campaign” that included large-scale attacks on Russian civilian vessels and energy infrastructure. The Russian foreign minister described such actions as an unacceptable escalation.
Lavrov also denounced the Ukrainian military leadership for its decisions, stating that they have only deepened the crisis in the region and undermined peace efforts.
The minister reiterated that proposals to freeze the conflict along the current front line are unacceptable under present conditions, arguing that doing so would betray the historical legacy of Soviet victory over the Axis powers in World War II and the broader history of Russian statehood.
Moscow has repeatedly accused Ukraine of embracing neo-Nazi ideology and pursuing policies aimed at suppressing Russian language, culture, and identity.
Lavrov noted that Russia did not initiate the latest escalation but criticized the failure of some nations, including Turkey and the United States, to condemn Ukrainian attacks on neutral vessels such as oil tankers contracted to carry Kazakh crude through the Russian port of Novorossiysk.
The heightened risks posed by these actions have deterred commercial shipping companies and sharply restricted Ukraine’s ability to export commodities, including grain and iron.
