Entire Russian army should be designated as terrorist organization - advisor to Ukraine Army chief

The entire Russian army should be recognized as a terrorist organization, because it has probably killed more civilians than all terrorist organizations combined.

Dan Rice, a U.S. combat veteran and Special Advisor to Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine's Armed Forces, said this in an interview with Ukrinform.

"Agree 100% that Russia as a country should be listed as a state-sponsor of terrorism, joining Cuba (2021), North Korea (2017), Iran (1984) and Syria (1979).  At the same time, the entire Russia army should be designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization," he said.

Rice noted that no foreign terrorist organization, such as ISIS, Al Qaeda, HAMAS, Hezbollah, FARC, ISIL, Boko Haram, etc., has killed as many innocent civilians through terrorist activities as the Russian Army over the past two decades in Chechnya, Syria, Georgia, Donbas, Crimea and this 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

"The Russia Army has likely killed more than all those terrorist organizations combined – so of course it should be labeled with the same label. Putin’s leadership and the leadership of his generals have been horrible, and the entire world is disgusted by Putin’s actions, his Generals’ actions and strategies, and the behavior of Russian soldiers across the Army. The long list of state-sponsored terrorism against the people of Ukraine is well known and documented for the world community," Rice said.

On July 28, the upper house of the U.S. Congress unanimously adopted a resolution calling on the U.S. Department of State to designate Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism.

According to The New York Times, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he was not ready to make a decision on recognizing Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism, despite a corresponding resolution passed by the U.S. Senate, because it could force the U.S. to sanction some allies and complicate further diplomatic contacts with Russia.