(Moscow, May 2) — The Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement on May 1, asserting that "Kyiv's attempts to restore its 1991 borders will never be allowed."
The ministry described the Ukrainian government and its Western supporters’ claims to restore Ukraine to its 1991 borders as baseless and unrealistic.
Russia stated it would take all necessary measures to ensure such a scenario would never occur.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has previously stated that Ukraine "does not recognize Russia's occupation of Crimea" and that "Crimea is internationally recognized as Ukrainian territory."
The Russian Foreign Ministry also condemned a May 1 drone attack by Ukrainian forces on a crowded market in Oleshky, a town in Ukraine's Kherson region currently under Russian control.
The ministry labeled the attack “heinous,” accusing Ukraine of deliberately targeting civilians on the May Day public holiday. It said the attack further revealed Kyiv’s intention to escalate the armed conflict and undermine prospects for a peaceful resolution.
However, Ukrainian military spokesperson Volodymyr Voloshyn stated that the attack targeted Russian military forces in the Russian-controlled Kherson region. "All fatalities were military personnel, with no civilians involved," he said.