Shoigu called the Western military during their deployment in Ukraine legitimate targets of the Russian Federation

Military units of Western countries, if deployed in Ukraine, will become legitimate targets for the Russian Armed Forces. This was stated on April 30 by the Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, Sergei Shoigu, in a video message at the session of the meeting of high representatives of the BRICS countries in charge of security issues.

"I would like to emphasize that it is absolutely unacceptable for Russia to deploy military units of Western states on Ukrainian territory. They will be considered as legitimate targets for the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation," TASS quoted him as saying.

Shoigu said that sending Western military personnel to Ukrainian territory indicates preparations for the occupation of the western part of Ukraine by European countries. He noted that Kiev ignores this possibility.

"We have noticed plans to introduce some pseudo-peacemakers into Ukrainian territory. There are all signs of the impending occupation of the western regions of Ukraine by Europeans," he added.

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On April 24, Shoigu noted that the deployment of peacekeeping forces in the historical territories of the Russian Federation could lead to World War III. According to him, in the context of Ukraine, Europe's plans to deploy a military contingent under the guise of peacekeepers are aimed at taking control of the country's territory and resources.

On the same day, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the deployment of Western military contingents in Ukraine was unacceptable to Russia. Peskov also noted that this initiative poses a critical threat to the security of the whole of Europe.