Russia stated that the parliamentary corps from the party Servant of the People had called on the Ukrainians and the authorities to break off diplomatic relations with Russia, to call in reservists and deploy troops of NATO countries in Ukraine, and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy allegedly had announced a full mobilization.
This was stated by the representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia Maria Zakharova at the department’s briefing, reports the online newspaper Ukrayinska Pravda. Zakharova explains such actions by the fact that the head of state allegedly "saves the sagging polls [of his own and that of the Servant of the People—Ed. The Page] against the background of worsening living standards, rapid de-industrialization and depopulation of Ukraine".
"In order to divert the attention of the Ukrainian population from the deteriorating situation in the socio-economic sphere and the growing political turbulence, as well as to justify absolutely aggressive militaristic plans, Kyiv is conducting an active campaign of disinformation. Its basis is still the same—creating an image of the enemy in the person of Russia," she said.
At the same time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine explained that Zakharova's statements were another example of disinformation. According to the spokesman for the department, Oleh Nikolenko, the law on mobilization in Ukraine signed by Zelenskyy implies the improvement of the procedure for calling in reservists in a special period, in particular, it is about response measures in case of threats to national security against the backdrop of exacerbated military aggression in Donbas. He stated this in a commentary to Ukrayinska Pravda.
Context. The day before the Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation Sergei Shoigu announced the end of "verification activities" in the Southern and Western Military Districts of the country on the border with Ukraine. From April 23 to May 1, troops will be returned to their permanent dispositions.