Russia has launched a series of verbal attacks against the UK ahead of VE Day commemorations, with Kremlin officials making inflammatory claims about Britain supporting Nazis in Ukraine.
Vladimir Putin ally, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova branded British ambassador Nigel Casey as "repugnant" during a fiery outburst on state television.
The tirade included accusations that Britain is backing Nazis and plotting to destroy Moscow.
State TV host Vladimir Solovyov joined in with unfounded claims about British intelligence involvement in Ukrainian operations.
Russia has launched a series of verbal attacks against the UK ahead of VE Day commemorations, with Kremlin officials making inflammatory claims about Britain supporting Nazis in Ukraine
Getty/ Reuters
Speaking on state propaganda TV to host Vladimir Solovyov, Zakharova said: "I'm looking at you, because I find it repugnant to look at the British ambassador [Nigel Casey], but I will address him nonetheless."
She accused Britain of pursuing "the wrong strategy, century after century."
Zakharova claimed that while Britain was "trying to apply new technological capabilities, using manipulation, schemes, and provocations to once again declare some kind of strategic defeat," Russia was "moving forward."
She insisted that Russia was "grinding down" everything Britain attempted.
Despite Putin's invasion of Ukraine, Zakharova claimed: "We are achieving victories, just as we did in the Second World War."
Zakharova accused the British of downplaying the role of the Red Army in defeating Hitler while claiming Russia had "quoted Churchill correctly".
She said those marching today "tear down Soviet monuments, exhume honoured soldiers, and now they walk with the British."
Britain was described as "a zombified society fed not history, but historical nonsense".
She claimed Britain was currently "training Ukrainians to kill Russians".
Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov alleged that: "Almost all of Europe is again waging war against us under Nazi banners."
Zakharova also made historical accusations, claiming Britain "set up a concentration camp near Arkhangelsk during the intervention of 1918-1922...over 4,000 people were killed".
She further claimed: "Russia is leading the global process of international decolonisation, giving countries and peoples the chance to free themselves."
Zakharova continued her attack on Telegram with a bizarre post imagining Britain at war with Russia.
She wrote: "Both princes [William and Harry] and the king will lead British bankers, designers and, of course, scientists into battle.
"Liz Truss will cover her rear in a tank. Boris Johnson will parachute in with British flags in his hands."
"Theresa May will finish everyone off with a dance and tales about 'Novichok'."
Solovyov also made unfounded claims about British involvement in Ukrainian military operations.
He stated without evidence: "Who has openly stated they are developing the entire naval drone programme for the Ukrainian nationalists? The British..."
"There has not been a single terrorist attack on Russian territory where the involvement of British intelligence was not apparent..."
He claimed: "The heads of the American and British intelligence services sat together and explained how they are overseeing Ukrainian special services."
Solovyov echoed the false claim that Ukraine is run by neo-Nazis, a central theme in Russian propaganda justifying Putin's invasion.
He bizarrely alleged that the King "gave a standing ovation to Ukrainian Nazis."
Solovyov continued his tirade claiming that Britain in the 1930s "welcomed fascists with open arms, and now it trains and celebrates their ideological descendants."
He insisted that Europe was "again waging war against us under arms and, as I have already said, under the Nazi banners."
"It is very important not only to preserve the memory of the heroes of the...Second World War," he said.
"But also to remember the diplomatic experience, the diplomatic lessons of those events."
