Hypocrisy in action: Moscow condemns US strikes on Iran, then attacks civilians in Kyiv

By AFP and Global Watch | 2025-06-24

Just hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned US air strikes on Iran as "unprovoked" and "unjustified," his own military launched a massive overnight barrage on Kyiv, pummeling the Ukrainian capital with drones and missiles in one of the largest attacks in months.

Speaking in Moscow during a meeting on June 23 with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Putin criticized American actions, stating: "This absolutely unprovoked aggression against Iran is unjustified."

However, he made no mention of Russia's simultaneous assault on Kyiv that same morning.

"Another massive attack on the capital. Possibly several waves of enemy drones," Kyiv military administrator Tymur Tkachenko said on Telegram on June 22 after the strikes began.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia had launched 352 unmanned aerial vehicles -- including Iranian-designed drones -- and 16 missiles at Ukraine, adding that some of the munitions were provided to Moscow by North Korea.

'It was horrible'

AFP journalists heard drones flying over the capital and explosions ringing out during the overnight barrage.

Kyiv resident Natalia Marshavska, who was kept awake by the attack, described to AFP how the buzzing of one drone grew louder and louder until it was directly overheard.

"I realized it was right above us. And then there was an explosion -- all in a matter of seconds," she said

The blast threw her across the room and shattered the windows in her flat before smoke began billowing everywhere, she added.

"It was horrible."

The Russian army said it has used precision weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles to strike Ukrainian military facilities and claimed that "all the designated targets were destroyed."

The attack spurred Zelenskyy to directly call out Moscow's duplicity:

"After the [US] strikes on Iran's nuclear program facilities, there was a lot of uproar from Moscow -- the Russian leadership performatively condemned the 'missile-and-bomb' actions," he said in a post on X. "Today, Moscow is silent after the Russian army carried out a completely cynical strike using Russian-Iranian Shahed drones and missiles against civilian infrastructure in Kyiv and our other cities and communities."

Moscow praises Iran ties

Just a day before its attack on Kyiv, Russia's Foreign Ministry issued a blistering statement against the US air strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities.

"The irresponsible decision to subject the territory of a sovereign state to missile and bomb strikes, no matter what arguments are used, is grossly violating international law, the U.N. Charter, and the resolutions of the U.N. Security Council," the ministry said in a statement on its website.

The statement went on to describe the US operation as "a dangerous escalation" that undermines regional and global security.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov echoed that sentiment shortly before Putin's meeting with Araghchi:

"There has been a new escalation of tensions in the region, and, of course, we condemn this and express our deep regret in this regard."

Despite Russia's strong words, Putin offered no specific assistance to Tehran. "We have offered our mediation services," Peskov said, adding that any support would "depend on what Iran needs."

When asked whether the US strikes on Iran would affect Moscow-Washington relations, Peskov dismissed the concern: "They are different issues."

Putin has positioned himself as a mediator between Iran and Israel, though US officials have dismissed the idea. During the June 23 meeting, Araghchi thanked Moscow for its friendship:

"Russia has been a partner and companion" to Tehran, he said, praising the nations' "very close and longstanding" ties.

Putin did not clarify what form Russia's support might take, stating only: "We ... are making efforts to help the Iranian people."

Meanwhile, as Iranian missiles remain grounded, it is Russian drones -- many of them built using Iranian designs -- that continue to fall on Ukrainian cities.