On Wednesday, Moscow leveled accusations against Washington and London, alleging their involvement in facilitating a missile strike on Russia’s Black Sea Fleet headquarters in annexed Crimea the previous week. Maria Zakharova, a spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, asserted with unwavering confidence that this attack had been meticulously premeditated, orchestrated with Western intelligence assets, NATO’s satellite technology, and reconnaissance aircraft.

Moreover, Zakharova asserted that this missile strike was executed in intimate collaboration with American and British intelligence services. Ukraine claimed responsibility for this unprecedented missile attack, which targeted the Black Sea Fleet’s headquarters in the port city of Sevastopol last Friday, igniting a substantial blaze.

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Russia’s Defense Ministry reported one Russian serviceman as missing due to the attack, while Kyiv contended that it resulted in the deaths of 34 officers, including Fleet Commander Viktor Sokolov. However, on Wednesday, the Defense Ministry released a video depicting Sokolov seemingly in good health, reaffirming that the Black Sea Fleet was steadfastly executing its entrusted commands.

Since the invasion of Ukraine the previous year, the Kremlin has consistently accused Western powers of engaging in a covert conflict against Russia by extending financial and military support to Kyiv.

The commander of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, previously believed to have perished in the destruction of its headquarters in occupied Sevastopol last week, seems to have survived based on a video released by the Russian defense ministry.

On Monday, Ukrainian officials publicly asserted that Admiral Viktor Sokolov was one of the 34 senior officers who lost their lives in a missile attack on the Black Sea Fleet headquarters last Friday, dealing a significant blow to the Russian war effort.

Russia remained silent regarding the specific claims made by Ukraine, presumably recognizing the impossibility of positively portraying the destruction of what should have been the most secure structure on the Crimean peninsula.

However, on Tuesday, Admiral Sokolov briefly appeared in a video of a meeting chaired by Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, effectively refuting the Ukrainian allegations.

The vice admiral appeared briefly, participating in the meeting via video link, dressed in his uniform, propped up with a pillow. His face showed no signs of injury, but his eyes appeared to be closed behind his glasses.

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While this brief appearance may not have been entirely convincing, a still photograph released shortly thereafter depicted Sokolov with his glasses removed and his eyes open, though he still appeared to be resting against a pillow, suggesting he might be recovering in a hospital bed.

Russian authorities have a history of manipulating video evidence to portray deceased, injured, or disfavored commanders as active. Conversely, Ukrainian commanders have previously announced the deaths of Russian military leaders who later turned out to be alive.

The question of whether Admiral Sokolov’s career can endure the destruction of the Black Sea Fleet headquarters, considering the fleet’s pivotal role in projecting Russian military power, remains to be addressed on another occasion. Sokolov’s predecessor was dismissed last year following the loss of the fleet’s flagship cruiser, the Moskva.

In the video released on Tuesday, Defense Minister Shoigu claimed that over 17,000 Ukrainian soldiers had lost their lives in September, with seven American Bradley fighting vehicles destroyed, according to Reuters.

Shoigu asserted, “The Ukrainian armed forces are sustaining significant losses across the entire front line,” while also dismissing the effectiveness of the Ukrainian counter-offensive. He went on to say, “The United States and its allies continue to supply arms to the Ukrainian armed forces, and the Kyiv regime deploys untrained soldiers in futile offensives.”

The Speaker of Canada’s House of Commons has issued an apology for his earlier commendation of an individual with a controversial past from World War II during a session attended by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Speaker Anthony Rota had acknowledged Yaroslav Hunka, a 98-year-old, as a “Ukrainian hero, a Canadian hero” during a session in the Canadian Parliament on Friday, expressing gratitude for his service.

It has since come to light that Hunka served in World War II as a member of the 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS, a fact pointed out by the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center, a Jewish human rights organization, which demanded an apology.

The center underscored that Hunka’s associations with the Nazi war machine are extensively documented. Both Zelenskyy and Trudeau had joined in acknowledging Hunka during the parliamentary session with applause.

Rota has taken full responsibility for what he described as an oversight, acknowledging that the initiative was entirely his own. In a statement issued on Sunday, he expressed his “sincerest apologies to Jewish communities in Canada and worldwide” upon becoming aware of additional information that led him to regret his earlier decision.

He reiterated his apology on Monday in the Parliament, conveying his deep remorse for his actions and remarks. Rota also clarified that the initiative had been solely his own, with no involvement or prior knowledge by fellow parliamentarians or the Ukrainian delegation.

Standing ovations

The recognition occurred after Ukrainian President Zelenskyy’s visit to the parliament, during which he expressed gratitude to Canada for its support in Ukraine’s conflict with Russia.

Following Zelenskyy’s remarks, Speaker Rota acknowledged Yaroslav Hunka, who was seated in the gallery, and commended him for his role in fighting for Ukrainian independence against the Russians.

Hunka’s presence in the gallery led to two standing ovations from those in attendance. As Canadian lawmakers cheered, President Zelenskyy raised his fist in acknowledgment, and Hunka saluted.

The Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center expressed deep concern, stating, “At a time when anti-Semitism is on the rise and the Holocaust is being distorted, it is highly distressing to witness the Canadian parliament applauding an individual who served in a unit of the Waffen-SS, a Nazi military division responsible for the murder of Jews and others.”

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The organization called for an explanation regarding how this individual gained access to the esteemed chambers of the Canadian parliament and received recognition from the Speaker of the House, along with a standing ovation.

The Russian RIA state news agency reported that Russia’s ambassador to Canada, Oleg Stepanov, plans to send a letter to Prime Minister Trudeau and a note to the Canadian foreign ministry on Monday, seeking clarification from the Canadian government.

‘Optics are not good’

Dominique Arel, who holds the position of Chair of Ukrainian Studies at the University of Ottawa, expressed strong concern about the incident, highlighting its problematic nature.

“The issue here is one of symbolism, particularly the optics of serving in a military unit whose insignia is associated with arguably the most notorious criminal organization of the 20th century. Clearly, the optics in this situation are not favorable,” Arel stated in an interview with CBC News.

Prime Minister Trudeau, in particular, has faced pressure from opposition Conservative lawmakers who have raised questions about how the Canadian Prime Minister’s office could have been unaware of Hunka’s background.

Andrew Scheer, the former leader of the Conservative Party, challenged Speaker Rota in the House of Commons on Monday, stating that the provided statement did not address the key questions concerning how Hunka’s background was vetted.

In the backdrop of this controversy, it’s worth noting that Russia initiated a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, framing it as a “special military operation” aimed at denazifying and demilitarizing its neighboring country. President Zelenskyy is of Jewish heritage and has personal ties to the Holocaust, having lost relatives in it.

Kyiv and its Western allies have consistently argued that Russia’s attack, which has resulted in tens of thousands of casualties and millions of displaced people, is an unprovoked act of aggression and an attempt to seize territory. The United States has characterized Russia’s justifications for the war as falsehoods designed to manipulate international public opinion.

Michael Mostyn, the CEO of B’nai Brith Canada, expressed outrage that the Canadian Parliament honored a former member of a Nazi unit. Mostyn pointed out that certain Ukrainian ultranationalist ideologues who volunteered for the Galicia Division had aspirations of creating an ethnically homogenous Ukrainian state and endorsed the concept of ethnic cleansing.

Mostyn emphasized the expectation of a forthcoming apology and insisted on a meaningful one. He asserted that Parliament owes an apology to all Canadians for this incident and demanded a detailed explanation of how it could have occurred within the heart of Canadian democracy.

India’s Foreign Minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, addressed the situation regarding the killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar during a recent statement. On Tuesday, he conveyed that India had communicated its willingness to thoroughly examine any specific and pertinent information provided by Canada in relation to this matter.

This response came after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s announcement last week, where he claimed that Ottawa possessed credible intelligence linking Indian agents to the murder. This initial assertion had triggered a strong reaction from New Delhi, which vehemently denied the allegations.

Speaking about these allegations during a Council on Foreign Relations event in New York, Jaishankar elucidated on India’s diplomatic engagements. He emphasized two key points in India’s response. Firstly, he clarified that the alleged involvement of Indian agents does not reflect the official policy of the Indian government. Secondly, he conveyed that India had extended an invitation to Canada, urging them to share any specific and relevant information they might possess for further examination.

In response to these developments, India took certain actions, including the suspension of new visa issuances for Canadians and requesting Ottawa to reduce its diplomatic presence within India. This move was justified by India on the grounds of a deteriorating security environment.

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Jaishankar also shed light on India’s longstanding concerns regarding the presence of organized criminal elements, alluding to individuals like Nijjar. He mentioned that India had submitted numerous extradition requests in this regard. He further explained that it is crucial to consider the broader context, noting that Canada has witnessed a rise in organized crime activities, including those linked to secessionist movements, violence, extremism, and organized criminal networks.

International allies of Canada, including the United States, have expressed cautious concern over these claims and have urged India to cooperate with Canada’s ongoing investigation. The U.S. ambassador to Canada disclosed that some information related to the case had been gathered through the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, comprising the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.