Russia is preparing artificial protests in Cyprus against EU policy toward Ukraine – intelligence reports

“Russia is trying to organize artificial protest actions in Cyprus aimed against EU policy, the decision to allocate a €90 billion loan to Ukraine, as well as to discredit the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky”, - the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense reported on social media on April 24.

The organization of these actions involves the russian embassy in Cyprus, structures of “Rossotrudnichestvo”, pro-russian public organizations, etc. Overall coordination is carried out by the “russian cultural center”. Such organizations, under the cover of cultural projects, deliberately promote russia’s influence and propaganda outside the country.

Ukrainian intelligence is aware that the “protests” are planned to take place until April 25 under formal anti-war slogans — this is a typical russian manipulation shifting responsibility for the war onto Ukraine, the EU, and NATO. The main demand is expected to be the “immediate cessation of EU funding for the war in Ukraine”.

The MID emphasizes that through such provocative actions, the kremlin seeks to undermine support for Ukraine and provoke division within the EU. However, artificial protests orchestrated by the kremlin are doomed to fail.

“Cyprus consistently supports Ukraine and its territorial integrity; for it, the principle of territorial integrity is also extremely important. EU structures have been informed about the artificial nature of these actions, as well as about the people behind their organization”, - the Ukrainian intelligence stressed.