Medvedev Exploits Assassination of US Activist
Dmitry Medvedev, formerly the President and Prime Minister of Russia and now vice-chairman of the Russian Security Council, has taken to social media in the wake of the assassination of US activist Charlie Kirk. In an attempt to connect the murder to a Ukrainian “assassin,” Medvedev seems to be capitalizing on rising tensions directed toward Western nations that back Ukraine, even hinting at nuclear threats.
Medvedev’s recent statements included a quick association between Kirk’s death and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. He employed the term “vandelite,” an allusion to World War II’s Nazi SS, to describe the Ukrainian government, drawing parallels between Kirk’s murder and the shooting of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico last year. Fico’s administration was notably reluctant to engage in supplying military aid to Ukraine and faced a violent attempt on his life, which he narrowly survived.
The aftermath of Fico’s shooting is still under investigation, with the assailant admitting that their motives were linked to Ukraine, aiming to create a power shift in the Slovak leadership.
Medvedev asserted, “Political crimes and assassinations have been carried out by various left-wing liberals supporting Vanderite Kiev.” His assertion implies that those who back Ukraine are, in his view, endorsing such murders. Interestingly, at the time of his comments, the shooter responsible for Kirk’s assassination had not yet been apprehended, leaving the exact motives unclear.
This isn’t the first instance of Medvedev attempting to correlate political violence with Ukraine. Following a failed assassination attempt on Donald Trump in September 2024, he speculated that the shooter might have ties to the Ukrainian government.
Known for his aggressive rhetoric against the West, Medvedev has previously issued stark threats, including mentions of targeting President Trump if the conflict in Ukraine were to cease. His comments extend to various nations, alluding to nuclear threats toward the UK, Germany, and other Western politicians, as well as international criminal courts.
