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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Daniel Boffey in Brussels and Shaun Walker in Kyiv

Russian envoy warns of right to counterattack in eastern Ukraine

Russian Marines carry out exercises at a firing range close to the Ukraine border near Brest, Belarus
Russian Marines carry out exercises at a firing range close to the Ukraine border near Brest, Belarus Photograph: Russian Defence Ministry/AFP/Getty Images

Russia’s ambassador to the EU has said Moscow would be within its rights to launch a “counterattack” if it felt it needed to protect Russian citizens living in eastern Ukraine.

The comments in an interview with the Guardian will do little to calm fears of a major Russian assault on Ukraine, given one of the key scenarios suggested by western intelligence was Russia launching a “false-flag” operation to provide a pretext for invasion.

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