MOSCOW: Moscow on Thursday claimed that Ukrainians crossed into Russia and opened fire on civilians, an allegation denied by Kyiv as a “deliberate provocation.” Russia says its regions bordering Ukraine are routinely shelled by Ukrainian forces but the alleged incursion, if confirmed, would be a rare instance of fighting inside its territory.Shortly after Russia reported the alleged incursion, President Vladimir Putin said the attackers were “neo-Nazis and terrorists... who today committed another terrorist attack, penetrated the border area and opened fire on civilians”. However, Ukrainian presidential advisor Mykhaylo Podolyak quickly dismissed Moscow’s claims.

‘Catastrophic consequences’

The involvement of the United States and Nato in the war in Ukraine risks bringing “catastrophic consequences”, Russia warned on Thursday in a speech boycotted by many Western diplomats.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva that “the most acute strategic threat is posed now by the US and Nato policy aimed at further fomenting the conflict in and around Ukraine.”

Lawmakers back tougher, wider law on ‘discrediting’ the Russian army

He added, “their growing involvement in an armed confrontation is fraught with a direct military clash of nuclear powers with catastrophic consequences.”

Ryabkov spoke before a largely empty chamber, with many Western diplomats especially opting to symbolically gather for a nearby photo opportunity in front of a mural painted in the blue and yellow of the Ukrainian flag during his scheduled speaking time.

“We consider this as an extraordinary show of solidarity with the Ukrainian people who resist an unprovoked and unjustified Russia’s aggression,” Ukraine’s ambassador Yevheniia Filipenko told.

“Until Russia takes its tanks out of the field of Ukraine... we are here to show support to our Ukrainian colleague,” British ambassador Simon Manley said.

‘Discrediting’ the army

On Thursday, Russia’s lower house of parliament gave its initial backing to a law that would bring in longer prison sentences for anyone deemed to have discredited the Russian army and extend the legislation to cover the Wagner mercenary force.

The chamber confirmed the law had passed what it calls its “second reading” on its official Telegram channel.

“Discrediting” the army can currently be punished by up to five years in prison, while spreading knowingly false information about it can attract a 15-year jail sentence.

Vyacheslav Volodin, chairman of the State Duma, Russia’s lower house of parliament, said a day earlier the changes would toughen existing laws with offenders risking a maximum punishment of 15 years in jail.

If the bill is approved in its final parliamentary review on March 14, the law will be extended to offer protection for the first time to the Wagner mercenary force, which is fighting in Ukraine, and to other voluntary military organisations. Ryabkov insisted on Thursday that Russia had no choice but to suspend its participation in the treaty, as “a total hybrid war (was) unleashed against us.”

“At the same time, as it was already stated, we will continue to comply with the quantitative limits on strategic offensive arms,” he told the conference.

Published in Dawn, March 3rd, 2023