Russia ‘kill list’ Ukraine revealed as Marise Payne warns European nations fear they will be next

Australia’s Foreign Minister Marise Payne has issued a new warning for Europe, as Russia revealed its “kill list” being tracked by the Five Eyes.

Eastern European nations watching the Russian-Ukrainian standoff are worried they will be next, Australia’s Foreign Minister has claimed.

As tensions continue to rise ahead of the looming potential invasion, Marise Payne told 2GB that a number of other countries neighbouring Russia and Ukraine were “concerned” they could be next in Vladimir Putin’s sights.

Ms Payne, who visited several nations including Germany and France for talks with world leaders over the crisis, said other nations like Poland and Lithuania were “concerned” they would be next.

“This is obviously a very very serious situation,” Ms Payne said.

“Countries in the region are very concerned, that was certainly the message they were sending.

“These are countries that have fought their way out of this kind of oppression in the past, they have done so with courage and with strength they have grown and developed.”

She added that Australia was committed to helping European nations stay out of Russia’s control, and hinted she was hopeful the conflict wouldn’t eventuate.

“Australia has been very clear our commitment to their sovereignty and territorial integrity, particularly specifically the case of Ukraine right now... we will not be changing that position,” Ms Payne said.

“We will be continuing to request and suggest very very strongly... this is not inevitable, this does not have to happen, there are still choices to be made by Russia.”

Ms Payne added that Australia would work with nations including the US, UK and Canada to impose “deep and serious” sanctions on Russia if the invasion went ahead.

Foreign Minister Marise Payne with Ukraine Foriegn Minister Dmytro Kuleba. Picture: Twitter @MarisePayne

RUSSIA’S UKRAINE ‘KILL LIST’ REVEALED

The State Department issued a new warning to US citizens to leave Ukraine immediately amid reports that Russia has drawn up a list of dissidents “to be killed or sent to camps following a military occupation”.

The alert warns there is a “strong likelihood” that Russia could “seriously restrict commercial air travel” following military operations.

It comes after the US sent a letter to the United Nations human rights high commissioner claiming Moscow has a growing list of dissidents and political opponents to target if it invades Ukraine.

The US also has “credible information” civilians would be targeted with “lethal measures” by Russian forces countering peaceful protests or demonstrations.

Russian riot police detain a protester in Moscow in 2020. Dissidents who fled to Ukraine after the crackdown are reportedly on the Kremlin’s “kill list”. Picture: AFP.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied the letter’s claims. “Do you realise that this is an absolute canard, a lie? It is absolute fiction. There is no such list. It’s a fake,” Peskov said.

The US ambassador to the UN, Bathsheba Crocker, wrote to the UN high commissioner for human rights, Michelle Bachelet, to allege Russia post-invasion plans include targeted killings, unjust detentions, and kidnappings and forced disappearances.

“I would like to bring to your attention disturbing information recently

obtained by the United States that indicates that human rights violations and abuses in the aftermath of a further invasion are being planned,” Croker wrote in the letter, published by The Washington Post.

Russian and Belarus tanks during joint exercises at a firing range near Brest. Picture: AFP

It would result in a “widespread human suffering” and a “human rights catastrophe, including torture against Russian and Belarusian dissidents in exile in Ukraine, along with journalists, anti-corruption activists, and other religious, LGBT and ethnic minority groups opposing Russian actions.

Russian and Belarus dissidents fled to Ukraine in 2020 after Moscow cracked down on widespread protests against constitutional amendments that could keep Putin in power until 2036.

Russian riot police detain a protester in Moscow in 2020. Dissidents who fled to Ukrainian after the crackdown are reportedly on the Kremlin’s “kill list”. Picture: AFP.

The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights monitors abuses in Ukraine, giving it responsibility for reporting oversight of the country should Russia invade with an occupying military force.

“Specifically, we have credible information that indicates Russian forces are creating lists of identified Ukrainians to be killed or sent to camps following a military occupation,” Crocker wrote.

The letter did not outline the evidence of its “credible information”.

The list of those being targeted has been shared with Ukraine and other regional partners that could help evacuate potential targets, according to four intelligence sources quoted by Foreign Policy.

A US official told the outlet that the intelligence classification was downgraded so that it could be shared with its allies.

Biden administration is reportedly “startled” by how formal the lists are against anyone who could challenge the Russian agenda.

The kill lists, reportedly built by Russian intelligence agencies FSB and GRU, are being tracked by the US’s intelligence partners of the “Five Eyes”, which includes Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and the US.

“As we’ve seen in the past, we expect Russia will try to force co-operation through intimidation and repression,” an anonymous official added to the outlet.