Putin tells Ukrainian army to overthrow government 'of drug addicts and neo-Nazis'

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday called on the Ukrainian army to overthrow their government, whose leaders he described as “terrorists” and “a gang of drug addicts and neo-Nazis.”

Putin also accused “Ukrainian nationalists” of deploying heavy weapons in residential areas of major cities to provoke the Russian military, a claim that could fuel fears Moscow is creating pretexts for justifying civilian casualties.

Addressing the Ukrainian military in a televised address, he urged them to “take power in your own hands.”

“It seems like it will be easier for us to agree with you than this gang of drug addicts and neo-Nazis," he said.

Putin also praised Russian troops, saying they were acting in a “couragous and professional manner.”

“They are successfully solving the most important task of ensuring the security of our people and our Fatherland,” he said