Russia has criticized comments published in an Australian media report and shared by an Australian opposition politician, accusing them of promoting hatred toward Russians and encouraging violence against an ethnic group.
The statement, issued by Russian officials, was directed at an article discussing the training of Ukrainian troops by members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). Moscow argued that the language used in the report crossed the line into hate speech.
Moscow Objects to Remarks on Military Training
According to the Russian statement, officials took particular issue with comments attributed to Australian military personnel describing their mission as helping Ukrainian forces become more effective at killing Russian troops.
Russia said references to making trainees “better at killing Russians” or “best skilled in killing Russians” amounted to rhetoric targeting Russians as a people rather than military combatants.
The statement also criticized the media outlet for publishing the comments in a positive light.
Criticism Extended to Australian Politician
Russian officials further objected to the article being shared by Senator James Paterson, Australia’s Shadow Minister for Defence.
According to Moscow, the senator’s decision to post the report on his website gave political endorsement to language that Russia considers inflammatory and unacceptable.
Russia Links Military Support to Civilian Casualties
The Russian statement reiterated Moscow’s longstanding claim that Ukraine has used foreign military assistance to carry out attacks against Russian civilians.
Russian officials argued that countries providing military training, weapons and other support to Ukraine share responsibility for the consequences of those actions. Ukraine and its Western allies reject such allegations, maintaining that military assistance is intended to help Ukraine defend itself following Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Concerns Raised Over Russians Living in Australia
Moscow also claimed that rhetoric encouraging the killing of Russians could have broader social consequences within Australia.
According to the statement, normalizing such language risks dehumanizing people of Russian origin living in the country and could endanger their safety.
Russian officials questioned whether the reported comments were consistent with Australia’s recently strengthened hate crime laws and called for what they described as anti-Russian hate speech to be stopped.
The remarks reflect the Russian government’s position and come amid continuing diplomatic tensions between Moscow and Western countries over the war in Ukraine.
