Russia Urges Britain To Explain Activities Of Its Dead Soldiers In Ukraine

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Maria Zakharova. (Twitter/@mfa_russia)

JAKARTA - Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on Thursday said Britain should reveal what the British soldiers who died in Ukraine actually did on Tuesday, accusing London of helping Kyiv commit acts of terrorism.

Britain's Defense Ministry on Tuesday announced Corporal Hooley died in Ukraine while observing Ukrainian troops testing new defense capabilities, far from the front lines of fighting.

"London must honestly admit what Hooley did themselves there. It seems that maybe someone in England is starting to carefully prepare public opinion in their country for military losses in Ukraine that are impossible to hide and keep secret," Zakharova said.

He further said the British government should not deceive its citizens by claiming British troops sent to Ukraine were only advisers or instructors, accusing British troops of helping Kyiv "conducting terrorist attacks and extremist tasks" on London's direct orders.

Zakharova, who said Russia would consider any foreign military contingent in Ukraine a legitimate target, did not provide evidence to support his accusations of Britain's alleged wider involvement.

Britain, as a leading country in the so-called "Sulawesi Coalition," has repeatedly said it supports the delivery of multinational troops to Ukraine after a ceasefire or peace agreement was agreed, a potential deployment that Russia has warned.

The British government itself has never confirmed how many military personnel are in Ukraine, but the BBC has reported a small contingent supporting Ukrainian forces and providing security to diplomatic staff.