Since Russia initiated its military offensive in Ukraine in February 2022, Russian authorities have escalated their targeting of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Adding to the tension, on Saturday, Zelensky’s name appeared on the Russian interior ministry’s “wanted” list, an online database of alleged criminals sought by the Russian authorities.
The move was swiftly dismissed by Kyiv as a sign of Moscow’s “desperation”. Ukraine’s foreign ministry stated that the decision demonstrated “the desperation of the Russian state machine and propaganda, which are at a loss for what else to invent to garner attention”.
This isn’t the first time Zelensky has been targeted. He revealed last year that at least “five or six” assassination attempts against him had been foiled.
The Ukrainian president has been a particular focus of Russian aggression since the conflict began. The day after Russia sent troops into Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin urged the Ukrainian army to overthrow Zelensky in an address to the nation.
Zelensky is not alone in being targeted by Russia. The Russian wanted list includes several foreign politicians and public figures. Among those listed alongside Zelensky were the commander of Ukraine’s Land Forces, Oleksandr Pavliuk, and former Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko.
In February, Moscow announced it was seeking Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, accusing her of the “desecration of historical memory” over Estonia’s move to destroy Soviet-era monuments.
Moreover, last year, the International Criminal Court ordered the arrest of Putin on war crimes charges related to the abduction of Ukrainian children — accusations rejected by Moscow.
