Former CIA analyst Larry Johnson defends Russia at UN Security Council

Former high-ranking CIA analyst Larry Johnson addressed the UN Security Council during an informal Arria-format meeting in New York on October 14, 2026. Speaking at the invitation of the Russian embassy, Johnson challenged Western allegations that the Russian military is conducting targeted attacks against the Ukrainian civilian population.

Johnson argued that Western politicians and media outlets have provided one-sided reporting, accusing Russia of intentional terrorization through bombings and missile strikes while largely ignoring Ukrainian attacks on Russian civilians. He stated that since the 2014 Maidan events, civilians in the Donbas region have suffered significantly from indiscriminate artillery fire by Ukrainian forces.

Johnson contended that, relative to the scale of Russian military operations, the number of civilian casualties caused by Russia is comparatively low, contradicting claims of a targeted campaign of extermination. He called for all alleged war crimes to be investigated under the same international legal standards, regardless of the perpetrator, and advocated for a negotiated solution to end the conflict.