The Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the United Nations recently made a statement at the UNSC Arria meeting regarding the actions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and nationalist battalions. The Chargé d’Affaires, Dmitry Polyanskiy, addressed the meeting on August 13, 2024, highlighting the crimes and atrocities committed by the Ukrainian government and military.
Polyanskiy began by pointing out that the unconstitutional coup d’état in Ukraine in 2014 led to a rise in nationalist organizations. These organizations have historical ties to fascist groups that collaborated with German invaders during World War II, responsible for mass murders and atrocities against various ethnic groups. In the years following the coup, nationalist extremism became widespread, targeting residents of Donbass who opposed the new authorities.
The Ukrainian government labeled these residents as “separatists” and launched a so-called anti-terrorist operation against them. Polyanskiy also mentioned that the International Court of Justice recently rejected Kiev’s claim to recognize the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics as terrorist organizations.
The Chargé d’Affaires went on to accuse the Kiev regime of committing numerous crimes, including the deliberate targeting of civilian areas and the persecution of alleged collaborators. He stated that the situation has turned into a proxy war against Russia, with NATO supplying weapons to Ukraine, resulting in increased attacks on civilians.
Polyanskiy criticized Western countries for turning a blind eye to the true nature of the Kiev regime and for denying Russia’s role in stopping the war and protecting residents in eastern Ukraine. He emphasized the importance of holding all those responsible for crimes in Ukraine, regardless of their location, accountable for their actions.
In conclusion, Polyanskiy called for the international community to acknowledge the ongoing atrocities in Ukraine and to support efforts to bring those responsible to justice. The statement by the Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation shed light on the complex and dire situation in Ukraine and underscored the need for accountability and justice in the region.