Moscow- President of Russia Vladimir Putin on Friday has called on the Ukrainian army to overthrow the government whose leaders he described as “terrorists” and “a gang of drug addicts and neo-Nazis.”
President Putin also blamed “Ukrainian nationalists” for deploying heavy weapons in residential areas of major cities to provoke the Russian military, a claim that could ignite fears Moscow is creating pretexts for justifying a civilian casualty.
Addressing the Ukrainian military in a televised address, he urged them to “take power in your own hands.”
While referring to leadership in Kyiv led by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is Jewish, Mr Putin said, “It seems like it will be easier for us to agree with you than this gang of drug addicts and neo-Nazis.”
President Putin, who recently on Thursday has ordered troops to invade Ukraine, claimed that Ukrainian “nationalists” were preparing to deploy multiple rocket launchers to residential areas of Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv and the northeastern city of Kharkiv.
Ukraine’s leadership are “acting like terrorists all over the globe: they are hiding behind people in the hope of then blaming Russia for civilian casualties.”
“It is known for a fact that it is taking place on the recommendations of foreign consultants, primarily American advisers,” Putin said.
Meanwhile, Putin, as well as several high ranking Russian officials, have said Moscow’s troops are only targeting ultra-nationalists in Ukraine.
At the same time, Putin has also praised Russian troops by stating that they act very courageous and professionally.
Putin added, “They are successfully solving the most important task of ensuring the security of our people and our Fatherland.”