Russia's Lavrov says conflict with west is 'almost a real war' in chilling warning.

RUSSIA'S Foreign Minister on Monday (January 23) cast the conflict between Moscow and the West as "not hybrid" and "almost a real war."

Sergei Lavrov, speaking during a trip to South Africa, also criticized the West for sending billions of dollars of arms to Kyiv.

"The goal is to destroy everything Russian, from language to culture, that has been in Ukraine for centuries and to prohibit people from speaking their mother tongue."

South Africa is one of Russia's most important allies on a continent divided over the invasion of Ukraine and Western attempts to isolate Moscow.

It says it's impartial and has abstained from voting on U.N. resolutions relating to what Russia calls a "special military operation".

The Sun newspaper brings you the latest breaking news videos and explainers from the UK and around the world

Become a Sun Subscriber and hit the bell to be the first to know

Read The Sun: www.thesun.co.uk

Like The Sun on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thesun/

Follow The Sun on Twitter: twitter.com/TheSun

Subscribe to The Sun on Snapchat: www.snapchat.com/discover/The_Sun/1633225139

#russia #ukraine