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A senior Russian diplomat has accused Ukraine of using drug trafficking to inflict "targeted harm" on Russian citizens and of lacking a sovereign anti-drug policy, according to statements reported by the Russian state news agency TASS.
Speaking at a roundtable on the threats of crime and drug spread from Ukrainian territory, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Dmitry Lyubinsky said Ukraine's special services have used narcotrafficking to harm Russian citizens, and that Russian law enforcement agencies have repeatedly uncovered drug labs with Ukrainian links, TASS reported.
Coverage comparison
The accusations were carried in three separate TASS reports published on May 14, each focusing on a different facet of Lyubinsky's remarks. One report highlighted his claim of an "explosive increase" in synthetic drug production in Ukraine since the start of Russia's military operation, while another focused on his assertion that Ukraine's authorities are willing to introduce a quarter of the population to drugs to gain Western funding. A third report centered on the alleged use of drug trafficking by Ukrainian special services.
All three reports rely solely on Lyubinsky's statements, without independent verification or comment from Ukrainian officials. TASS is a Russian state-owned news agency known for reflecting official Kremlin positions.
Key claims
Lack of sovereign anti-drug policy: Lyubinsky said Ukraine "essentially has no sovereign anti-drug policy" and is being used by the West as a "testing ground for controversial practices" of uncontrolled drug distribution, as quoted in two of the TASS reports. He specifically referenced the legalization of medical cannabis in Ukraine since August 2024 and ongoing discussions about legalizing recreational use.
Drug trafficking as a weapon: Lyubinsky stated that Ukrainian special services have used drug trafficking to cause "targeted harm" to Russian citizens. He said that in 2025, three labs producing mephedrone were liquidated in the Kostroma, Novosibirsk, and Kemerovo regions, and that these were linked to Ukraine. He also claimed Ukraine has become "one of the world's largest laboratories" for synthetic drug production.
Production and transit: Lyubinsky cited an "explosive increase" in synthetic drug production in Ukraine since the start of the special military operation, particularly cathinone and illegal methadone. He said these substances are used domestically and for export. He also characterized Ukraine as a "major transit point" for Afghan opiates and a "center" for synthetic drug production.
UN data: Lyubinsky noted that the UN Office on Drugs and Crime classifies Ukraine as one of the main countries of origin for methadone seized between 2020 and 2024, according to TASS.
Motivation attributed to Ukraine: Lyubinsky suggested that Ukrainian authorities are motivated by a desire to access EU funding, saying they are "ready to put at least one-fourth of their population on drugs" to please the West.
Perspectives
Russian official view: As presented by TASS, Lyubinsky's remarks frame Ukraine as a source of drug-related threats to Russia, blaming Ukrainian policies and Western influence. The statements also serve to portray Ukraine as a destabilized state whose drug problems have grown since the conflict began.
Ukrainian perspective (not included): None of the reports include responses from Ukrainian officials or independent verification of the claims. The Ukrainian government has not publicly commented on these allegations. In the past, Ukrainian officials have accused Russia of spreading disinformation that seeks to justify its military actions.
Independent analysis: The claims rely entirely on the statements of a Russian government official, and no third-party sources are cited to corroborate the specific accusations about Ukrainian special services or the scale of drug production. The reference to UN data suggests that some statistical information about methadone seizures exists, but the broader assertions are unverified.