KEY POINTS

  • Medvedev claims the map was drawn up by "Western analysts"
  • Vinnytsia and Chernivtsi oblasts were seen occupied by Romania 
  • Medvedev had earlier said Ukraine may disappear from the map

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, a staunch supporter of Vladimir Putin, has come out with a map of Eastern Europe, showing a disintegrated Ukraine. As per the map, a major chunk of Ukrainian territory is missing post-war, having been absorbed by the Russian Federation.

The Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council uploaded the controversial map on his telegram account Tuesday, reported Kyiv-based Ukrainska Pravda. Medvedev claims the map was drawn up by "Western analysts," but has not named who the analysts are.

The Medvedev map shows Ukraine consisting solely of Kyiv Oblast. Most of its territories, including Donbas, are seen included in the Russian control. Besides the Donbas, the majority of which are currently with Pro-Russian forces, the map also shows Dnipro, Sumy, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Chernhiv, Kropyvnytskyi, Cherkasy, Chernihiv and Mykolaiv territories under Moscow's control.

The port city of Odessa too is depicted as Russian territory.

Interestingly, Vinnytsia and Chernivtsi oblasts are seen as being occupied by Romania, while a few other parts of the country, including Uzhgorod, are with Poland and Hungary. For some reason, Medvedev's map did not "allocate" any Ukrainian territory to Belarus, a staunch ally of Russia, and a supporter of the war.

Medvedev's map comes days after he warned that Ukraine as a state may disappear from the map "as a result of unfolding events."

According to Medvedev, after the 2014 coup, Ukraine lost its state independence and fell under the direct control of the collective West. Kyiv began to believe that NATO would guarantee its security and as a result of the current events, Ukraine may lose what’s left of its state sovereignty and disappear from the world map, the politician warned.

Medvedev's map was ridiculed by many on social media. While a few accused him of 'alcohol-related dementia,' others called out Russia for "stealing the land of other countries."

According to Jason Jay Smart, a Kyiv Post correspondent, Medvedev's map was a "foreshadow of Russia's plans." Smart also tweeted about Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) leader Denis Pushilin's Belarus visit and his statements about how it was "time to liberate" Kyiv, Lutsk and Odesa.

"Today it's time again to liberate Russian cities founded by Russian people: Kyiv, Chernihiv, Poltava, Odessa, Dnepropetrovsk, Kharkov, Zaporozhye, Lutsk," Pushilin said, while he attended a flower-laying ceremony at the Brest Fortress in honor of a World War II battle.

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Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council Dmitry Medvedev. SPUTNIK / Dmitry Astakhov