Russian MFA: West using Ukraine as weapons testing ground

Russia’s Foreign Ministry said on June 4 that Western countries are using Ukraine as a testing ground for weapons, with spokeswoman Maria Zakharova alleging that Ukrainians are being treated as “guinea pigs.”

Speaking at a briefing on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Zakharova said: “Right now, Ukraine is indeed being turned into a real military laboratory of the West. Apparently, it has already turned into a testing ground. Its defence companies are increasingly being viewed as a real range for combat testing, weapons and developments, and the scale of these processes has gone far beyond individual initiatives.”

“Now, indeed, the West views the population of Ukraine as guinea pigs. They are applying technologies — not just without any certification, but with a direct understanding that any certification will be possible following experiments conducted on Ukrainians or with the participation of Ukrainians,” she added.

Zakharova also said that “no human rights structures in the West see this.”

Citing data from Ukraine’s Ministry of Digital Transformation, she said more than 400 foreign companies from the United States, Britain, Germany, France, Canada, Israel, Poland, Estonia and other countries are registered in Ukraine.

According to Zakharova, in 2023–2024, the Ukrainian armed forces tested more than 300 drone models and dozens of European startups.

“Convenient, isn’t it? First, they tested on Ukrainian civilians, and then they sent these Ukrainian citizens to the front line so that no claims, demands for compensation, or certificates of damage to health would be made later. For Western manufacturers, this is indeed a unique opportunity. Equipment that in peacetime would wait years for certification receives battle-tested status in a matter of days. This immediately increases its market value and competitiveness and prepares it for entry into markets,” Zakharova concluded.

By Tamilla Hasanova