Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova warned Thursday that foreign military units deployed to Ukraine could be considered legitimate Russian military targets if their presence obstructs efforts to reach a sustainable settlement to the conflict.

Zakharova placed responsibility for any resulting escalation on Western governments and politicians, while reiterating Moscow’s categorical opposition to the deployment of foreign forces in Ukraine.

She said Russia had repeatedly made clear that it rejects any foreign military presence in Ukraine, arguing that the deployment of foreign troops would amount to a further escalation of Western involvement in the conflict.

According to Zakharova, the presence of foreign military personnel could interfere with Russia’s ongoing military operation and undermine diplomatic efforts aimed at achieving a sustainable resolution.

She warned that foreign military units deployed under circumstances that prevent or hinder a settlement would be regarded by Moscow as legitimate military targets.

Zakharova also said Western states and politicians would bear responsibility for any escalation arising from the deployment of foreign forces.

Russia has consistently opposed proposals involving the deployment of foreign military personnel to Ukraine, maintaining that such a move would deepen direct Western involvement in the conflict.

Zakharova’s latest remarks underscore Moscow’s position that a foreign military presence would be incompatible with what it considers necessary conditions for a sustainable settlement.

The warning comes amid continued discussions among Ukraine’s Western partners over long-term security arrangements for Kyiv and potential mechanisms to deter renewed hostilities.

Separately, Zakharova claimed that Russian authorities had recorded what she described as mass desertions by Ukrainian recruits from military training facilities in Germany.

According to the Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, hundreds of similar cases had reportedly been recorded at training camps across Germany.

Zakharova characterized the alleged desertions as a broader "phenomenon" rather than isolated incidents, claiming that some Ukrainian recruits had openly expressed their refusal to fight.

She further alleged that the recruits who fled the facilities cited opposition to fighting for what she described as the "Kiev regime," the government of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and what she called "European values."

Zakharova also made a controversial historical comparison when discussing the alleged departures, saying Ukrainians were fleeing training camps in Europe in a manner she likened to people fleeing concentration camps.

The claims about Ukrainian recruits fleeing German training facilities were presented by Zakharova as part of Moscow’s broader criticism of Western military support for Kyiv. No independent evidence was provided in the remarks cited to substantiate the scale of the alleged desertions.

Russia’s warnings over foreign military deployments and its allegations concerning Ukrainian recruits come as the conflict continues to generate tensions between Moscow, Kyiv and Western governments over military assistance, security guarantees and the prospects for a negotiated settlement. (ILKHA)