A host on Russian state television made the claim that UK citizens have to eat squirrels because their nation spends so much money providing military assistance to Ukraine.
According to a translation by Ukrainian interior ministry adviser Anton Gerashchenko, Olga Skabayeva told Russian news program 60 Minutes that “it was revealed that some restaurants in once-great Britain will be serving squirrels.”
Skabayeva said in the video, “In view of the fact that there are plenty of animals in the parks, so why not eat them, bearing in mind the food shortage.”
“They are not backing down from the decision to help Zelenskyy, to supply weapons. That is, they will eat squirrels, but still supply howitzers,” she said.
According to Michell Mark of Insider, a business news website, Skabayeva is one of Russia’s most well-known propagandists and frequently supports radical viewpoints regarding the conflict in Ukraine.
Since Russia’s invasion in February 2022, the UK has been one of Ukraine’s first and most significant supporters, providing training as well as military and humanitarian help. By February 2023, it had pledged to spend $2.7 billion on military assistance.
There are shortages of some imported fresh produce in the UK, which have been variously blamed on Brexit-related red tape, regional weather patterns, and electrical costs.
Skabayeva’s remarks, however, seem to be based on news articles about efforts regarding nature preservation. They had no explicit connection to Ukraine or even the food security of the UK, although Skabayeva tried to suggest they were.
Early in March, the Exmoor Squirrel Project made headlines with a plan to have grey squirrels served in select local eateries.
The organization works to protect the nation’s native red squirrels, which are in danger of extinction because of competition with grey squirrels. Grey squirrels are regarded as an invading non-native species.
The group’s comments about trying to eliminate grey squirrels without wasting their lives were covered by a number of news sources.
The group’s acting manager, Kerry Hosegood, has promised that “there’s no waste there. They’ll be put to some good use instead of being put in a hole in the ground.”
