Ukraine's Foreign Ministry on July 28 denied claims made by a top Iraqi official that "cells belonging to Ukraine" were responsible for bombings against Iraqi government facilities. The allegations from Iraq, a country where Iran holds significant political and military sway, emerged amid escalating tensions between Kyiv and Tehran.
Iraq's national security advisor, Qasim al-Aboudi, stated in a July 27 interview that authorities had arrested a group of individuals who confessed to working for Ukraine and targeting government facilities with bombs. However, he also noted that further investigation was needed before making accusations.
Ukraine's ministry called the allegations "unfounded and unsubstantiated," emphasizing that the Iraqi official himself acknowledged the lack of evidence. Kyiv also pointed out that no information had been conveyed through diplomatic channels prior to the public statement, deeming it "unacceptable and irresponsible" and damaging to bilateral relations.
Kyiv suggested the statements align with Russian propaganda narratives aimed at discrediting Ukraine and undermining its relationships with Middle Eastern nations. The ministry believes the incident could be part of a "coordinated information and psychological operation" to destabilize the Ukrainian-Iraqi partnership.
These claims follow a period of increased friction between Ukraine and Iran. Ukraine announced on July 25 that it had struck a vessel carrying military cargo between Iran and Russia in the Caspian Sea. Iran condemned this as an "act of aggression" and warned it would not go unanswered, raising concerns about potential retaliation against Ukraine. Furthermore, Ukraine has been sending military experts to Gulf states to assist with defense against Iranian drone attacks, and President Volodymyr Zelensky alleged that Moscow has been providing Tehran with satellite imagery of U.S. and Gulf military installations.
