‘Britons deserve better’ – Putin aide on Starmer and Epstein-linked ex-prince

Kirill Dmitriev, aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin, has slammed UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and former Prince Andrew over scandals involving both the British government and royal family, including allegations linking them to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

In a post on X on Monday, Dmitriev wrote: “Britons deserve better than Prince Andrew & Starmer.”

Separately, Dmitriev called on Starmer to step down, citing reports he let child sex offenders avoid charges while heading the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

“Starmer has to go,” Dmitriev wrote on X.

Starmer led the CPS from 2008-2013, and his record during that period has been heavily criticized due to the grooming gangs scandal involving groups of mostly foreign-origin men sexually exploiting children. The scandal first drew attention in the early 2010s, but Starmer’s government only launched a formal probe in mid-2025, though he repeatedly claimed he had improved CPS handling of such cases during his time there.

However, new reports by the Express and GB News released on Monday claim that while at the CPS, Starmer helped draft and roll out a system where suspected child sex offenders received “warning notices” instead of prosecution.

READ MORE: UK mulls removing ex-Prince Andrew from royal succession – media

Citing records, the outlets allege thousands of such notices – civil letters telling adults not to contact specific children but carrying no legal force or immediate penalty – were issued with no follow-up, giving a “dangerous illusion of police action” while letting offenders go free.

The report came after Starmer’s office was rocked earlier this month following the latest US release of Epstein files. The controversy centered on Starmer’s failure to vet former UK envoy Peter Mandelson, who allegedly had close ties to Epstein. Starmer has so far retained his post by publicly apologizing to Epstein’s victims and blaming Mandelson for “lying” about his relationship with the sex offender. Starmer’s chief of staff, communications director, and cabinet secretary were all forced to resign amid the scandal.

The latest Epstein files have also reignited a scandal around the UK royal family, particularly Andrew, younger brother of King Charles III. He was placed under police investigation last week for “misconduct in public office” over claims he shared government secrets with Epstein. The files include an anonymous tip alleging he tortured a six year old and documents corroborating Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre’s claim that she was trafficked to the former prince when she was just 17.

In another X post, Dmitriev, who earlier called Mountbatten-Windsor and other Epstein associates “satanic,” warned that the scandal may herald the “end of the British crown.”