The minister stated that Ukraine urged the governments of other countries to assess the threat posed by these centers to national security and to consider restricting or closing their activities.
Read more Latvian President: Europe would struggle to withstand a Russian missile attack
“Ukraine has officially appealed to governments around the world, asking them to recognize the threat that this network poses to their national security. We have presented arguments as to why their activities should be restricted and completely stopped,” A. Sybiha wrote on the social network X.
According to him, Russia is conducting a global battle for people’s consciousness, using various tools and channels. Among them, the minister named the Russian federal agency “Rossotrudnichestvo” and cultural centers operating abroad called “Russian Houses.”
A. Sybiha stated that these centers are effectively used as tools for disinformation, destabilization, and espionage.
“We support the measures taken by European countries’ authorities to block these networks, primarily in Germany, where yesterday in Berlin, after many years of harmful activity, the ‘Russian Houses’ were closed,” said the Ukrainian minister.
He also stated that there should be no place in Europe for centers that, in his view, spread Russian military propaganda.
However, according to A. Sybiha, some such centers still operate in at least seven European countries.
Read more The «Banga» that won the Žemaitija derby remains in the fight for a ticket to Europe
The decision on “Russian Houses” was also made by Germany
This Ukrainian appeal appeared shortly after Germany’s decision to close the “Russian Houses” center operating in Berlin.
On September 1, Germany accused Russia of a hybrid attack at Leipzig airport in early August and announced retaliatory measures. Among them was the planned closure of the Russian General Consulate in Bonn and the “Russian Houses” in Berlin.
Due to these actions, German Foreign Minister Johannes Wadephul summoned the Russian ambassador. Similar measures were taken by other European countries.
The Russian Foreign Ministry responded to Germany’s actions with a threat of a “proper response” to Berlin. The German chargé d’affaires was also summoned in Moscow.
Later, the Russian Foreign Ministry ordered the closure of the German General Consulate in Saint Petersburg. Its staff were advised to leave Russia.
At the same time, Ukraine is seeking similar decisions to be made in other countries where Russian-related cultural centers still operate.
Read more Teachers spoke out at Santaros Clinic after Veronika filed a complaint about employee behavior
