Call Kyiv Statement Needs Double Verification, Kremlin: Don't Believe What You See, Check Back

Juru bicara Kremlin Dmitry Peskov. (Wikimedia Commons/Kremlin.ru/Press Service of the President of Russia)

JAKARTA - Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Ukraine was subject to complicated means to create a false reality. Thus, a re-examination of all statements issued by Kyiv is required.

"The Ukrainian side is using the most complicated ways to produce fake news," he told reporters.

"That's why I want to encourage everyone to treat all information as it is: Don't take it for granted, don't believe what you see, but try to double-check everything and at least find an alternative point of view."

Peskov also said he saw footage purported to show Ukrainian politician Viktor Medvedchuk had been arrested.

But he said it was too early to say the footage was genuine, as there were many false reports being made by Kyivv.

As previously reported, Ukraine's security services said on Tuesday they had arrested pro-Russian politician Viktor Medvedchuk, who is President Vladimir Putin's closest and most influential ally in Ukraine.

President Volodymyr Zelensky had previously published a photo of a tired-looking, handcuffed Medvedchuk, who said President Putin was his daughter's godfather.

In February, Kyiv said Medvedchuk, leader of the Opposition platform - Party For Life, had escaped from house arrest. Last year authorities opened a treason case against Medvedchuk, who denies any wrongdoing.

"You can be a pro-Russian politician and work for the aggressor state for years. You may be hiding from justice these days. You can even wear the Ukrainian military uniform for camouflage," the security service said in an online post. Reuters.

"But will it help you escape punishment? Not at all! Shackles await you and the same goes for a Ukrainian traitor like you," the statement said.

The post quoted Ivan Bakanov, the head of the secret service, as saying it had "conducted a rapid and dangerous multi-level special operation" to capture Medvedchuk, but gave no details.