Russia has accused the UK of helping Ukraine “fame atrocities” that will be blamed on Putin’s regime. However, Moscow has provided no evidence to support the claim – and Boris Johnson has previously denounced ‘Kremlin disinformation’.

In a tweet and statement released late Saturday night, Russia’s Defense Ministry alleged that “British intelligence” was working with Ukraine’s Security Service (SSU) in Lisichansk, a town in Lugansk Oblast in the Donbass. He said: “For this purpose, representatives of the Ukrainian and Western media, who had previously carried out staged photo and video shoots in Bucha, arrived in the city in advance.” Russia did not provide further details on this specific claim or provide any evidence.

The lengthy statement contained other unsubstantiated claims, including that “the special services of Ukraine are planning a provocation with the use of toxic chemicals to accuse Russian troops of allegedly hitting civilian infrastructure” in the area of ‘Odessa.

He said: “The most likely scenario of the staging could be an imitation of a missile strike by the Russian armed forces on the western naval base of the Ukrainian navy, following which the cooling plant from the port, located 500 meters from the military installation, will explode.”

Previous unsubstantiated Russian claims that Ukraine staged attacks – or even attacked its only people – have been dismissed by Ukraine and world leaders. Moscow has made similar statements about attacks on civilians in Bucha and Irpin.

Boris Johnson said at the time: ‘No denial or misinformation from the Kremlin can hide what we all know to be the truth: Putin is desperate, his invasion is failing and Ukraine’s resolve has never been stronger’ .

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