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Russia Threatens Western Troops in Ukraine as “Legitimate Military Targets”
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![Photo of Tommy Syrmolotov]( "Photo of Tommy Syrmolotov")
Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu warned that any deployment of Western peacekeepers to Ukraine would be viewed as a military threat, claiming such forces would be considered “legitimate military targets” by Russia’s armed forces.
The statement was reported by Russian state media outlet TASS on April 30.
Shoigu made the remarks during an address to representatives of BRICS countries, where he delivered a sharp critique of Western policies and addressed ongoing efforts by Ukraine and European partners to develop long-term security guarantees.
He alleged that proposals to send international peacekeeping contingents into Ukraine signal what he described as preparations by European nations to occupy parts of western Ukraine. “We view such initiatives as signs of direct occupation,” Shoigu said. He added that any foreign units operating on Ukrainian territory without Russia’s consent would be treated accordingly.
The statement follows ongoing discussions among Ukraine’s allies about potential future security frameworks that could include international deployments under certain scenarios. No such missions have been officially confirmed.
In his remarks, Shoigu also reiterated Russia’s long-standing demands for ending its full-scale war in Ukraine, now in its third year. These include the surrender of four occupied Ukrainian regions—Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson—the withdrawal of Ukraine’s NATO membership application, and what Moscow terms the “demilitarization” and “denazification” of Ukraine. He also called for legal protections for Russian-speaking citizens.
Kyiv and its Western partners have rejected these terms as ultimatums that violate Ukraine’s sovereignty and international law. Ukraine continues to push for a just peace based on the full restoration of its territorial integrity and adherence to the UN Charter.
Shoigu’s remarks reflect the Kremlin’s growing concern over deepening Western involvement in Ukraine’s defense planning, and signal that Moscow may further escalate its rhetoric—and possibly its actions—if additional foreign forces are introduced.
Earlier, Russia signaled readiness to discuss the potential presence of US personnel at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant as part of a broader political settlement.
-a80eca3386f843ec2c53278e18ae1131.jpg "Rare Footage Shows Ukrainian Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Unit Launching Multiple Chaklun-V UAVs at Night, Video")
