MOSCOW, February 20. /TASS/. After the coup, Ukraine turned into a source of controlled instability, which has been damaging Russia’s interests, Chairman of the Russian State Duma (lower house of parliament) Defense Committee, Hero of Russia Vladimir Shamanov said at a meeting with foreign military attaches accredited in Russia. The meeting was dedicated to the Duma’s 2016 legislative activities aimed at ensuring the country’s security.
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"As a result [of the Ukrainian coup], sponsors of the current regime in Kiev actually succeeded in turning Ukraine into a source of long-term controlled instability which has been inflicting direct damage on Russia’s political, economic and military interests," Shamanov stressed.
He added that the "Maidan" coup chieftains who "started a civil war in the country’s southwestern region taking advantage of radical nationalist idea cultivated by Bandera and his fascist flunkies, have shed much blood and still continue the carnage." However, it is Russia who is being blamed for the negative developments in southeast Ukraine, the senior lawmaker noted:
"They just try to shift responsibility".