The Ukrainian Embassy in New Delhi on Thursday accused Russia of orchestrating a “disinformation operation” in India, alleging that Moscow circulated fabricated claims about the detention of Ukrainian citizens, ANI reported.
In an official statement, the embassy strongly criticised remarks attributed to the Russian foreign ministry, calling them part of a broader attempt to manipulate information and interfere in India's internal processes.
“Recently, Russia's Ministry of Propaganda, which also masquerades as its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, issued a comment by its so-called ‘official representative' regarding the detention of Ukrainian citizens in India,” the embassy said.
The Ukrainian side alleged that claims about Ukrainian “terrorists” were fabricated and linked to Russian intelligence structures.
“According to Indian media reports, it was Kremlin-linked provocateurs who passed to the competent authorities of India fabricated ‘information,' concocted within FSB structures, about supposed Ukrainian ‘terrorists'. This bears all the hallmarks of a deliberate disinformation operation typical of the Russian special services,” the statement said.
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The embassy further accused Moscow of attempting to draw India into its geopolitical agenda, describing such efforts as disrespectful to India's sovereignty.
“It appears that Moscow still operates under the false assumption that it can interfere in the internal affairs of other states and use India as an instrument for advancing its own geopolitical interests,” it said, adding that such an approach is “outright insulting” to India's democratic institutions.
“India is a sovereign democratic state, and a court in New Delhi is not a branch of Moscow's Khamovnichesky or Lefortovsky district courts,” the statement added, alleging that these Russian courts are known for politically motivated verdicts.
The embassy also referenced international legal action against Russian President Vladimir Putin, noting that the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant against him in March 2023.
“On 17 March 2023, the International Criminal Court in The Hague issued an arrest warrant for Putin... for war crimes, in particular the unlawful deportation and forcible transfer of population, especially children, from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine to Russia,” the statement said.
In addition, Ukraine accused Russia of exporting instability through private military networks, citing sanctions imposed by the European Union on the Wagner Group.
“Back in 2021, the European Union imposed sanctions on the Wagner Group for grave human rights abuses and the destabilisation of entire regions… These measures were substantially broadened after Russia's full-scale invasion,” the embassy said.
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The statement also highlighted Russia's defence ties with Myanmar, pointing to arms supplies despite international calls to halt military support following the 2021 coup.
“Particular attention should be paid to Russia's role as one of the key suppliers of arms to Myanmar's military structures,” it said, noting that six Su-30SME fighter jets were delivered in March 2026 under a bilateral cooperation programme.
At the same time, the Ukrainian Embassy cited Indian authorities to underscore the lack of evidence supporting the allegations.
Quoting Stephen Lalrinawma, Superintendent of Police, CID (Special Branch), Mizoram Police, it said that despite heightened surveillance, “no suspects had been intercepted” and no terror-related activity had been detected.
“These statements… point to the absence, at this stage, of any established evidence to support them,” the embassy noted, urging reliance on verified facts over “unverified information or disinformation.”
Reaffirming its confidence in India's institutions, Ukraine called for an impartial probe and offered full cooperation.
“Ukraine has confidence in India's system of investigation and justice… We call on the competent Indian authorities not to yield to provocations and to ensure an independent, impartial, and fair consideration of the case,” the statement said.
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