Russia is a different civilization, and the West does not understand it. Lies are normal. 200 years ago, French traveler Marquis de Custine was completely flabbergasted by a Russian bureaucrat who boasted about their dishonesty. Custine quotes:

“Russia lies, denies the facts, makes war on the evidence, and wins!”

See my essay about Truth in the Russian civilization: https://smallwarsjournal.com/jrnl/art/a-look-at-russian-civilization-power-truth-trust-and-war