Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that Israel has the right to defend itself after the brutal Hamas attack but warned against hurting civilians in Gaza.
But former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko accused Russia of being involved in the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel.
Poroshenko said he was “absolutely convinced” of Russian hands in preparing for the attack and alleged that Russian instructors affiliated with the Wagner Group were transferred from Syria to Gaza to train terrorists.
Speaking to Euractiv, he said: “I am absolutely convinced that there is a Russian interest, Russian hands, in preparing for the Hamas terrorist attack against Israel.
“I am absolutely sure that Wagner’s Russian instructors in Syria were transferred to Hamas in Gaza and took part in training terrorists to prepare the absolutely barbaric attack against Israel from Gaza.”
Russia has denied any involvement in the Hamas attack.
Speaking to reporters after a meeting with leaders of ex-Soviet nations in Kyrgyzstan, Putin said that “Israel faced an attack that was unprecedented not only in its scale, but also its cruelty.”
He charged that Israel is responding to the attack “on a large scale also using cruel methods,” adding that “Israel certainly has the right to ensure its security”.