Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia's permanent representative to international organizations in Vienna, has rejected accusations that Moscow is involved in massive French wildfires.
Writing on social network X, Ulyanov said French officials and journalists claiming Russian involvement in the fires simply show disrespect toward their own population.
Impact of European Union sanctions
The wildfires sweeping across southwestern France are the largest to hit the region in half a century. As of July 27, the blazes had covered an area of 115,000 hectares.
Earlier reports indicated that European Union sanctions against Russia have hindered firefighting efforts in France and Spain. European nations cannot deploy Russian Kamov Ka-32 helicopters, creating major difficulties in managing the blazes.
