Civilians still trapped in Mariupol ‘hell’ as Russia launches new assault

Russia’s international ministry has accused Israel of supporting neo-Nazis in Ukraine, more escalating a row which started when Russian Overseas Minister Sergei Lavrov claimed Adolf Hitler experienced Jewish origins.

Israel lambasted Mr Lavrov on Monday, saying his claim – produced when talking about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky who is Jewish – was an “unforgivable” falsehood that debased the horrors of the Nazi Holocaust.

Leaders from numerous Western nations denounced Mr Lavrov’s remarks and Mr Zelensky accused Russia of owning neglected the lessons of World War Two.

The Russian ministry mentioned in a assertion that Israeli Overseas Minister Yair Lapid’s opinions have been “anti-historical” and “outlining to a significant extent why the present Israeli governing administration supports the neo-Nazi regime in Kyiv”.

Moscow reiterated Mr Lavrov’s issue that Mr Zelensky’s Jewish origins did not preclude Ukraine from remaining operate by neo-Nazis.

“Antisemitism in daily lifestyle and in politics is not stopped and is on the opposite nurtured (in Ukraine),” it reported in a statement.

Mr Lavrov created the Hitler assertion on Italian television on Sunday when he was asked why Russia said it required to “denazify” Ukraine if the country’s have president, Volodymyr Zelensky, was himself Jewish.

Israel has expressed assistance for Ukraine subsequent the Russian invasion in February. But wary of harming relations with Russia, a powerbroker in neighbouring Syria, it initially avoided direct criticism of Moscow and has not enforced official sanctions on Russian oligarchs.

You can read our total report on Mr Lavrov’s outrageous claims here.