Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova condemned the Ukrainian government, accusing it of acting as a terrorist organization on behalf of Western nations and their "deep state structures." 

The allegations followed a deadly incursion into Russia's Kursk Region by Ukrainian troops, which killed several civilians.

Zakharova, speaking to Sputnik Radio on Wednesday, described the Ukrainian attacks as acts of terrorism specifically aimed at harming civilians. "This is an act of terrorism. It was obviously directed against peaceful people. There is no doubt about that," she stated.

The spokesperson referenced a recent diplomatic fallout involving Mali, which severed ties with Kiev earlier this month. This decision came after Ukrainian officials took credit for an ambush on Russian military contractors by Tuareg militants in the Sahel region of Africa.

The transitional government accused Kiev of violating the sovereignty of Mali since its actions “go beyond the scope of foreign interference” by breaching international law.

In response to “Ukraine’s acknowledged and assumed involvement in the blatant aggression against Mali,” Bamako decided to immediately sever the diplomatic relations between Mali and Ukraine while instigating legal action following Yusov and Pivovarov's statements which “constitute acts of terrorism and advocacy of terrorism.”

Despite assuming a neutral stance on the Russia-Ukraine war, Mali has stated it supports Moscow's warning to the world following “the neo-Nazi and villainous nature of the Ukrainian authorities.”

A spokesperson for Ukrainian military intelligence labeled it a "successful military operation," while Bamako interpreted it as support for terrorism. Following this, Niger also condemned Ukraine and severed diplomatic relations.

Things to get worse

Zakharova warned of the potential for Ukrainian terrorism to spread globally, stressing, "Things will get worse in terms of Ukrainian terrorism spreading across the planet. It's not a joke."

She also went on to accuse Zelensky's administration of transforming Ukraine into a "terrorist gang" serving Western interests. She questioned the American public's awareness of their government's support for Ukraine, suggesting that US financial aid was effectively sponsoring terrorism.

In the ongoing conflict, Ukrainian troops have been targeting settlements in Russia's Kursk Region in an effort to penetrate Russian territory. Acting Governor Aleksey Smirnov reported an increase in civilian casualties from these attacks.

On Tuesday evening, a Ukrainian kamikaze drone struck an ambulance near the town of Sudzha, killing the driver and an elderly paramedic, and injuring a doctor. Earlier updates had confirmed three civilian fatalities, and local health officials reported at least 28 people injured by Ukrainian strikes as of Wednesday.

Zakharova also highlighted a deepfake video of Governor Smirnov, in which he supposedly urged all men in the Kursk Region to arm themselves and report to conscription centers.

The fake clip was derived from an actual video statement made by Smirnov on Tuesday, which instead called for citizens to remain calm and prioritize their safety.