The Ukrainian government has dismissed Russia’s accusations that it is among the countries providing support to the M23 rebel group, which controls large parts of North and South Kivu provinces in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), describing the claims as false and baseless.
Russia made the allegations through its Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, during his recent visit to Burundi.
Speaking to journalists after meeting Burundian Foreign Minister Albert Shingiro (formerly represented in the article as Bizimana Edouard), Lavrov claimed that “Ukraine is one of M23’s foreign sponsors,” but he did not present any evidence to support the accusation.
His remarks came just weeks after Russia’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Anna Evstigneeva, told the UN Security Council that Moscow was concerned by reports of foreign mercenaries operating in eastern DRC, including individuals with experience from the war in Ukraine who were allegedly serving as drone operators and military trainers.
Ukraine swiftly rejected the allegations through Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi, calling them “Kremlin disinformation” with no factual basis.
In a statement posted on X and later shared by the Ukrainian Embassy in the DRC, Tykhyi stressed that Ukraine provides no support whatsoever to the AFC/M23 coalition.
“Lavrov’s claims that Ukraine supports M23 in eastern DRC are yet another piece of Kremlin disinformation with absolutely no factual basis. We categorically reject and strongly condemn these false accusations,” Tykhyi said.
He further stated that Ukraine does not interfere in African conflicts, instead accusing Russia of contributing to instability across the continent.
“Ukraine does not interfere in African affairs. Russia, on the other hand, continues to arm various groups in violation of international sanctions, fuels instability, and recruits African citizens to fight in its war against Ukraine. Moscow’s habit of accusing others of what it is itself doing is nothing new,” he added.
Kyiv also argued that the allegations form part of a broader Russian strategy aimed at diverting attention from its own actions while undermining ongoing peace efforts in the Great Lakes region.
According to Tykhyi, “Russia’s objective is clear: to weaken U.S.-led mediation efforts in the Great Lakes region and distract the international community from Moscow’s own activities that continue to obstruct the peace process.”
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