Lavrov’s Typical Exoneration of Russia’s Crimes

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s latest attempt at literary creativity is a classic piece of Russian state rhetoric and fabrications, blending historical revisionism, omissions, and inverted logic to frame Russia as the victim and Ukraine and the West as the sole aggressors and perpetrators of falsehoods. However, Lavrov’s essay is replete with misconceptions, misinterpretations, fabrications, and downright lies in the political genre of his contemporaries and predecessors.

You can read the article, which appeared on Friday, June 19, on https://mid.ru/en/foreign_policy/news/2120138/ .

Lavrov uses the term “NATO expansion” as an explanation for Russia’s global paranoia that has evolved into belligerent levels. These points rely on a fundamentally warped premise of international law and state sovereignty, twisting defensive reactions into offensive actions. He goes to lengths to dismiss Moscow’s latest invasion of Ukraine and the resulting four-year-plus war without ever citing Russia’s original typically ridiculous reason of looking for Nazis in Ukraine. Lavrov claimed that the West, notably NATO, goaded Ukraine into seeking accession to it and then provoked the start of the war that actually Russia began on February 24, 2022. The goal of this Russian campaign was to invade, occupy and imprison Ukraine in its notorious prison of nations.

Lavrov wrote that the term “NATO expansion” is the reason for every move by the West against Russia. He claims that in reality it is a “smokescreen for the geopolitical expansion of Western institutions.”

However, Lavrov denies the historical reality that NATO does not “expand” via imperial conquest, which has been Russia’s favorite method of aggrandizing land and peoples. In reality, sovereign, independent Eastern European nations have voluntarily applied to join NATO out of historical and well-founded fears of Russian aggression. That is why Ukraine is hoping to become a member and help the alliance with its battlefield knowledge and skills against Russian murderers. Ukraine wants to live rather than die in Russian bondage.

The EU-Ukraine Association Agreement of 2013 cited by Lavrov was negotiated over years by Ukraine because its nation and Verkhovna Rada overwhelmingly wanted integration with Europe. It wasn’t an ultimatum; it was a sovereign choice that Russia economically blackmailed Yanukovych into abandoning at the eleventh hour, leading to street riots. The subsequent 2014 Ukrainian Revolution also known as the Euromaidan Revolution or Revolution of Dignity was a pivotal uprising in Kyiv that began in late 2013 when Yanukovych abandoned a deal to integrate with the European Union in favor of closer ties with Russia. The demonstrations escalated into deadly violence in February 2014, resulting in Yanukovych’s ousting and a new, pro-Western government. It also contributed to Moscow’s first wave of its latest aggression of Ukrainian eastern oblasts.

Lavrov also claims the West wants a ceasefire “for one reason only: to prevent the collapse of Armed Forces of Ukraine.” If truth be told, this flips the concept of peace on its head. The global community called for ceasefires and troop withdrawals to uphold the UN Charter and stop the slaughter of civilians, not as a tactical military ruse.

Lavrov’s claims distort actual historical events and agreements to create a false narrative of Western and Ukrainian bad faith.

Rather than a pro-Ukrainian independence revolution, Lavrov labels the Euromaidan Revolution a “coup d’état” orchestrated by the Western powers. Actually, Euromaidan was a mass, grassroots popular protest against Yanukovych’s sudden pivot toward Moscow and his regime’s subsequent violent crackdown on student protestors. It is estimated that about 2 million Ukrainians from around the country packed Independence Square in Kyiv to voice their support for an independent Ukraine and outrage against Russia and Yanukovych. The Russian gauleiter in Ukraine ultimately fled the country after his police killed nearly 100 protestors, and Ukraine’s democratically elected parliament constitutionally voted to remove him and schedule immediate elections.

As a distortion of the Mink Agreements cited by Lavrov, the Russian official weaponized quotes from former German and French leaders Angela Merkel and François Hollande to claim the West “never genuinely intended” to implement the 2015 agreements and only wanted to “buy time.”

Truthfully, this is a severe distortion of their actual statements. Merkel and Hollande noted that the Minsk pause allowed Ukraine to build its resilience, but the historical record shows Russia repeatedly violated the agreements from day one by refusing to withdraw its heavy weaponry, refusing to return control of the border to Ukraine, and continually fueling the war in the Donbas.

Lavrov concocted highly distorted accounts of specific events, tailored to generate emotional outrage and vilify Ukrainians.

For example, the Odessa Tragedy of May 2, 2014: The text references “the burning alive of dozens of innocent supporters of closer ties with Russia.”

Truthfully, this is a heavily manufactured narrative. Independent investigations (including by the Council of Europe) showed that the Trade Unions House fire in Odesa was a tragedy resulting from violent street clashes initiated by pro-Russian activists against a pro-Ukrainian march. Both sides threw Molotov cocktails, and the fire was a horrific accident, not a premeditated, one-sided “burning alive” tolerated by the West.

Lavrov further asserts that the Anglo-French “Coalition of the Willing” was a plan to “rapidly deploy military contingents from the Anglo-French ‘Coalition of the Willing’ onto Ukrainian soil.”

Actually, this is a fabrication designed to stoke fears of a direct World War Three scenario. While European leaders have discussed various forms of strategic ambiguity or training missions, there is no joint operational plan to deploy British and French combat brigades to fight Russia on Ukrainian soil.

Lavrov composes terms such as “legal warfare” and Illegal Maritime Detentions. He complained about an “infrastructure” of accountability (Register of Damage, Special Tribunal) and accuses the EU of “detaining merchant vessels on the high seas.”

However, the framing of international legal accountability for war crimes and aggression as “legal warfare” is a rhetorical tactic to delegitimize the international rule of law. Furthermore, maritime enforcements in the Baltic or Atlantic comply with international sanctions regimes regarding illicit cargo and safety regulations, not piracy.

Lavrov’s statements and observations throughout his essay are completely decoupled from objective reality, relying on absolute denial of documented facts.

As Hitler and Moscow have attempted to do in the past, they really aren’t defending “citizens and compatriots.” The text claims Russia’s goals are to ensure “respect and dignity... including the right to speak their native Russian language. The reality in this case is perhaps the most glaring lie. Russia’s “special military operation,” as it calls its latest all-out war against Ukraine, has leveled predominantly Russian-speaking cities (like Mariupol, Kharkiv, and Severodonetsk), killing tens of thousands of the very Russian-speaking “compatriots” Moscow claims to protect. This group of Ukrainian patriots, many of whom are frontline fighters for Ukraine’s freedom, fell victim to Russia’s plans to defeat, occupy and claim Ukraine as its own territory.

Russia says it has explored “Every Diplomatic Avenue,” according to Lavrov. He claims Russia tried everything to defuse the crisis before 2022, the date Russia militarily crossed Ukraine’s border.

However, in December 2021, Russia issued “security treaty” demands that were intentional non-starters – demanding NATO permanently ban Ukraine and effectively roll back its borders to 1997. This was not diplomacy; it was a manufactured pretext for an invasion that Russia was already actively amassing over 100,000 troops on Ukraine’s borders to execute.

Lavrov fervently sought to deny any Russian plan of imperial expansion. He claims that European assertions of Russia having “aggressive plans... far beyond Ukraine” are “nonsense, provocation, and disinformation.” Nonetheless, new former captive nations, Eastern Europe and “old” Europe are justifiably arming and preparing for a Russian invasion.

This often-repeated Russian assertion flies in the face of continuous, explicit rhetoric from the Kremlin itself, which routinely questions the sovereignty of Ukraine, the Baltic states, Moldova, and Kazakhstan, while state television regularly broadcasts threats of nuclear strikes and territorial conquest against European capitals. Putin, Lavrov and other Russian ersatz scholars and officials have argued that Ukraine as a country and Ukrainians as a nation are mere branches of Russia and the Russian people, and not independent entities. Anyone who says differently or seeks to change Moscow’s vision of this reality is threatened with nuclear destruction by Russia.

Lavrov operates on a total inversion of roles: the aggressor acts as the victim, and defensive actions by the victim and its allies are framed as unprovoked aggression. By rewriting the history of 2004, 2014, 2022 and today, Ukrainians’ defense their country against the latest Russian attempt to subjugate them, attempts to cleanse Russia of its documented violations of the UN Charter, the Budapest Memorandum and international law, and present its brutal territorial invasion as an act of self-defense.

In other words, nothing new is forthcoming from the Kremlin.

If Someone Warns You He’ll Kill You, It’s Safer to Believe Him

It has been suggested that when you’re told that a perpetrator intends to kill you, it’s safer to believe him — especially if he’s repeating his warning or threat.

Earlier this month Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Ukraine’s secret service uncovered such a plot. A couple of days later Russian drones hit targets across Ukraine, in Kyiv and the ancient, historic monastery, the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, which enjoys UNESCO recognition. Eleven people were killed. The Lavra was severely damaged as published photos of the blaze testified.

Sadly, Ukraine finds itself in another similar situation.

President Zelenskyy said on Saturday, June 20, that Russian forces are preparing additional colossal deadly attacks on Ukraine and warned residents to take special care. 

“Tonight and in the coming hours, it is especially important to pay close attention to air raid warnings,” Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address. “The Russians have prepared for a massive attack. Please take care of yourselves.”

Russian forces have staged a series of heavy attacks on Kyiv in recent weeks and other major cities. In the days after the strike on the Lavra, Russian cutthroats continued to launch fatal drones on Ukrainian cities increasing the count of casualties.

Zelenskyy pledged that his military would press on with its campaign of medium and long-range strikes, focused on the oil sector. Ukrainian drone pilots have significantly increased their skills and have hit Russian targets even 1,000 kilometers from Ukraine.

Zelenskiy said Ukrainian drones struck an oil refinery in Tyumen region in western Siberia on Saturday and Ukrainian drones also struck Moscow's oil refinery twice this week. The strike on Moscow was especially troublesome for Muscovites who reportedly panic at the realization that Ukrainians are attacking their homes.

On Saturday, Russian forces attacked the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia with glide bombs, killing five people and injuring 10, Regional Gov. Ivan Fedorov wrote on Telegram. 

The attacks and casualties continue.

In southern Kherson region, regional Gov. Oleksandr Prokudin said one person had died in a drone attack on a village north of the region's main city, also called Kherson. 

Three children were injured when the central city of Poltava came under Russian shelling, local officials said.

Zelenskyy also accused Russia of bringing Belarus into the conflict, warning of “extremely dangerous” consequences. He claimed Belarus has repeaters near the border that help guide Russian drone strikes in Ukraine.

“Belarus has time to dismantle this equipment,” he said.

Zelenskyy added that Belarusian gasoline shipments to Russia increased thirteenfold between January and May compared to the same period last year, while diesel exports tripled. He emphasised that these supplies and Belarusian industrial support strengthen Minsk's position in the conflict.

On Friday, June 19, Zelenskyy warned Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko that if alleged Russian drone-support equipment is not removed from Belarusian territory, Ukraine will take action to dismantle it.

"On his territory, along the two regions bordering Ukraine, there is equipment that adjusts (weapons) fire on our people. He should remove that equipment. I think a week is enough for him to do that," Zelenskyy wrote on X.

G7 Agrees: Russia doesn’t Want Negotiations

Despite their muted condemnation of Russian aggression against Ukraine and the ongoing murder of unarmed Ukrainian civilians, it seems as if the G7 members will still pursue a hardline against Moscow and hopefully will even intensify it.

French President Emmanuel Macron remarked on the sidelines of the recent G7 summit in Evian that negotiations with Russia on ending its war against Ukraine have run their course, according to The Guardian. It’s time for a new tactic.

“The United States took the initiative on negotiations, but what were the results, what was Russia’s response? None,” Macron said.

“Europeans also tried to communicate with Russia. And what happened? Nothing. Then President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he was ready to negotiate. What did President Vladimir Putin say? ‘No.’ President Trump, like all of us, agreed there was no serious desire on Russia’s part to hold peace talks or negotiations.”

Macron said the G7’s final conclusions on Ukraine reflect “quite far-reaching” support for Kyiv and show a “very deep change in approach,” including a clear US willingness to cooperate more closely with European partners. He said he was satisfied with the summit’s outcomes, which he called “real progress” marked by unity on Ukraine.

While the summit was long on words of multilateral support, it did not raise the stakes on Russia if it continues its bloody war. It didn’t, for example, say unequivocally that the G7, NATO and the free world want Russia’s destruction and defeat. Perhaps that will come later.

Russia’s plans for ending its war against Ukraine have been presented many times by many of its leaders from Putin on down the ladder. Indeed, one or another of them had added a range of clauses to negotiations or a ceasefire but none of them have been genuine, as the free world leaders have come around to understand.

Wipe away the Kremlin’s disinformation about its intentions and you will quickly see that Putin, Lavrov, and the others want one thing: Ukraine’s surrender, defeat, and reincorporation into its prison of nations. However, that would only contribute to Russia’s expansion into the former captive nations and Eastern Europe.

After striking the ancient Ukrainian legendary house of worship in Kyiv and killing eleven people, Russians, the next day, continued without remorse its bombardment of Ukrainian cities and towns. Its cutthroats have launched hundreds of long-range drones and dozens of missiles across multiple Ukrainian regions, targeting major cities including Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, and Poltava. Because Russia’s aerial campaigns routinely hit dozens of settlements across multiple front-line and central oblasts simultaneously, the exact number of distinct municipal targets is vast. Notable recent damages include:

Kyiv: Drones and missiles struck every district of the capital, severely damaging apartment buildings, setting historic cathedrals ablaze, and temporarily leaving up to 140,000 residents without power.

Dnipro & Kharkiv: Russian missile strikes on residential areas tore through apartment buildings, resulting in multiple civilian casualties and collapsing large portions of residential blocks.

Poltava & Zaporizhzhia: Strikes directly impacted energy facilities, gas production infrastructure, and critical power lines, cutting off gas supplies and forcing emergency blackouts in several localized districts.

In one instance, in the Kherson Oblast, two people were killed and 11 others injured in Russian attacks, Gov. Oleksandr Prokudin said. Russian forces targeted critical and residential areas, damaging four apartment buildings, four private homes, a gas pipeline, a farm, a passenger bus and vehicles.

In the meantime, Ukrainians have demonstrated that they can punch back with stunning pain. The overnight bombardment of Moscow told regular Russians that their leaders launched a war that Ukrainian soldiers have finally returned to their tsarist domain.

“Our long-range sanctions once again reached the Moscow region: for the second time in a week, the Moscow Oil Refinery was hit,” Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram on Thursday, June 18.

He added that Ukrainian forces also struck targets in Russia’s Rostov region and in Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine.

“This is a completely fair response to Russian strikes on our cities and communities, and another important result of our soldiers’ work against facilities that support the Russian war machine,” Zelenskyy said. The bombardment of bridges to temporarily occupied Crimea may soon cutoff the peninsula from the Ukrainian mainland.

Ukraine has repeatedly targeted Russian oil facilities, aiming to cut Moscow’s revenue for the war and make Russians feel the consequences of the invasion. Some areas have reported fuel shortages.

The attack by dozens of drones came hours after Zelenskyy said he had held “an important coordination call” with the presidents of the United States and France and had won key pledges of further support from this week’s G7 summit.

“If Ukraine is going to burn, your Moscow will burn too,” Zelenskyy said, adding that the attack was part of Kyiv’s effort to bring Putin to the negotiating table. “It is time to end the aggression, time to end this war.”

Diplomatic efforts have obviously failed to bring Putin to the negotiating table. Therefore, it is totally acceptable to scare the bejesus out of average Russian citizens so that they will force their leaders to end the war by packing up and leaving Ukraine with or without negotiations.

G7 Final Communique Politely Reprimands Russia as it Pledges Support for Ukraine

Regardless of what went on behind the scenes, the latest G7 meeting in the bucolic town of Evian, France, did not really tell the world who or what is causing Ukraine’s need for support, arms, and money, and what could happen if it doesn’t receive it.

It smacks of similar diplomatic balderdash that UNESCO used to write about Russia’s bombing of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra that I wrote about a couple of days ago.

Ironically, this tactic is being used by Ukraine’s supposed friends, or fair-weather friends that, in the past, individually or collectively, have been forthrightly condemning Russia’s aggression and strongly supporting its war effort.

Maybe I’m demanding too much of the G7, but if their predecessors had used a similar game plan regarding the Nazi invasion of Europe, then the armies of the Third Reich would have overrun London and parked their tanks outside the White House.

The first paragraph of the final communique reads: “We, the Leaders of the G7, stand united in our unwavering support for Ukraine in defending its freedom, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. We reaffirm our solidarity with the Ukrainian population suffering from attacks on their critical infrastructure and cultural heritage. We commend Ukraine for its resilience and progress on the battlefield in recent months and emphasize there is now a new momentum.”

The free world’s support for Ukraine is imperative, but why does Ukraine need it? Yes, to defend its freedom, sovereignty, and territorial integrity against what? Shouldn’t they have declared that they support Ukraine’s war against Russian aggression with or without appropriate adjectives? But we’ve said that already, they may point out. But Russian cutthroats are still in Ukraine so say it again as long as they are killing civilians in Ukraine! And reaffirming their solidarity with the Ukrainian population is so antiseptic that it lacks any sympathy, empathy or compassion for the Ukrainian men, women, and children who have been killed as collateral damage in the four years since Russia invaded Ukraine.

The second paragraph reads: “To support and accelerate this new momentum, we agree to increase the delivery of air defense capacities, additional systems and interceptors, and long-range capabilities. We are also ready to consider extending to Ukraine the benefit of licenses to allow for an increase in Ukraine’s military production.”

The G7 leaders should have admitted that without the Ukrainian armed forces’ blood and guts, their arms would be meaningless. Yes, Ukraine needs air defense capabilities, etc., as President Zelenskyy has often said, but without an excessive number of deadlier long-range missiles and ground armor, Ukraine’s battlefield progress would be stuck in the mud.

The communique concludes: “We stress the importance of energy resilience, on the basis of the needs and priorities expressed by Ukrainian authorities. We agree to provide further support to get the country through next winter.

“We commit to increase the pressure on the Russian war economy. In this context, we will strengthen our sanctions, including those on the oil and gas sectors. We consider this the right moment to proceed with additional measures, as President Trump has delivered a deal that we support in reopening the Strait of Hormuz.”

All of this means is that the G7 will continue helping the resilient Ukrainian armed forces and men, women, and children to spin their wheels in the mire of Russia’s war, hopefully waiting for the 2027 G7 summit.

No, that’s not acceptable. Either the G7 and NATO are in battle with Ukraine to win by defeating Russia, or else they’re wasting everyone’s time and money. With Russia not even considering letting up on its destruction of Ukrainian cities and infrastructure and killing of Ukrainian families, then Ukraine’s allies and supporters must change their tune from accelerating a new momentum to publicly seeking and planning Russia’s destruction and defeat for the free world’s sake.

Otherwise, we’ll see you next year. 

Melnyk at UN Likens Russian Bombing of Kyiv Lavra to St. Patrick’s in NYC

Taking advantage of his address during the discussion of UN Security Council reforms on Monday, June 15, Ambassador Andriy Melnyk resolutely likened the magnitude of Russia’s “blatant” bombing of the Dormition Cathedral to an attack on a house of worship on the scale of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City.

“For Ukrainians, this strike is of a magnitude comparable to Russia striking St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, Notre-Dame de Paris, or St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York,” declared Melnyk, who is the Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations.

The Ukrainian diplomat pointed out that during the massive missile and drone attack on Kyiv the previous night, Russia damaged the Dormition Cathedral of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, considered one of the holiest shrines not just for the Ukrainian Orthodoxy, but for all of Christendom.

Melnyk reminded his fellow delegates that this house of worship had been erected in the 11^th century. It was then completely destroyed by the Soviet Russia in 1941 during the Second War War and finally rebuilt by Ukraine after the restoration of independence.

“And now it was Russia again that launched this blatant attack on the UNESCO World Heritage Site,” he said.

Echoing a demand frequently enunciated by others, Melnyk reiterated the ultimatum that Russia does not deserve a seat in the Security Council and therefore should be expelled because its presence undermines the legitimacy of this body.

“Finally, Ukraine stresses a fundamental point: discussions on Security Council reform risk losing credibility if they do not address one crucial issue. A state that commits aggression, violates the Charter, and perpetrates war crimes on a systematic basis shall automatically lose its membership of the Security Council,” he said.

As a strong gesture to Ukraine’s former captive nations neighbors, Melnyk said any expansion of non-permanent membership must include enhanced representation of the Group of Eastern European States, which remains underrepresented, according to him.

The Ukrainian Ambassador, who frequently offers notable quotations from the Classics in his UN addresses, this time cited one by Cato: “Like Cato the Elder in ancient Rome, who repeatedly concluded his speeches in the Senate with the warning that Carthage must be destroyed, I will not tire to remind the UN member states, again and again, that the Russian Federation must be deprived of its illegitimate seat as permanent member of the Security Council.”

Estonian Parliamentarian Supports Russia’s Defeat

The Estonian chairman of the country’s unicameral parliament and a member of its Foreign Affairs Committee has posed a strong argument for adjusting the free world’s goal for ending Russia’s war with Ukraine and bringing peace to Europe and beyond.

Marko Mihkelson of the Reform Party argued that the only way to bring about an end to Russia’s war is by not shying away from the ultimate goal of defeating Russia.

Western leaders are asking the wrong question about Russia, Mihkelson pointed out. It is not how to negotiate with the Kremlin or deter a future attack, but how to ensure Moscow is defeated in its war against Ukraine so that aggression no longer appears to be a viable strategy, wrote Mihkelson in the publication Edasi.

“Almost every day, we hear new warnings about the possibility of a Russian attack against NATO. Defense analysts develop scenarios and conduct war games, intelligence services assess Russia's military capabilities and the Kremlin’s intentions and politicians urge societies to prepare for the worst. All of this is necessary. Yet too often, we fail to ask the most important question: what must be done to ensure that Russia never embarks on another act of aggression? Far too much energy is spent debating who should talk to Russia and how. Far too little is devoted to discussing how to bring about Russia’s defeat in the imperial wars of its own making.”

Mihkelson criticized politicians who favor using “sufficiently skillful diplomacy” to persuade Russian officials to abandon their objectives. The so-called right mediator, format and compromise also don’t work. None of that exists in the Kremlin’s world.

“Reality has proved mercilessly different,” he declared.

Indeed, reading or watching the news paints a very different image. Russia is intent on bombing Ukraine and killing Ukrainians until Kyiv succumbs to its will or surrenders.

“Russia operates according to the opposite logic. It prepares for opportunities, not threats. Its military planning rests on the assumption that weakness and hesitation among its adversaries create openings for further conquest. Its strategic objectives have not changed: Ukraine must fall and NATO must fracture,” he wrote. “It is therefore hardly surprising that every attempt to secure peace without addressing the root causes of aggression has reached a dead end. Ukraine has repeatedly demonstrated its willingness to agree to ceasefires and engage in negotiations. It did so in the early weeks of the war and it has done so repeatedly through various peace initiatives supported by international partners. Moscow’s response has always been the same: nyet.”

For Russia and its fuhrer Putin, negotiations are only a means to buy time and as long as Russia believes that time is on its side, it has little incentive to end the war, he opined.

Mihkelson also cautioned against voices in Washington, DC, that favor lasting peace without mentioning a just peace because “peace without justice is not peace at all. It is merely a ceasefire before that next war.”

Mihkelson urged his colleagues throughout the free world to speak openly about Russia’s defeat rather than a truce but more importantly to act to make its demise realistic.  “Supporting Ukraine is of critical importance because every day Ukraine holds the line, it is defending the rest of Europe as well,” he said, repeating the oft-repeated concept that the defense of Europe begins in Ukraine.

“And if we can finally move beyond the absurd formula — that Ukraine must not lose, but Russia must not win, a phrase still heard all too often in Europe’s diplomatic corridors — and instead focus on victory, then there is reason for hope.

But to do that, we must first overcome one deeply ingrained fear: the fear of Russia’s defeat.”

‘Stop Russian Barbarism’

The following are statements by Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha regarding Russia’s mass bombardment of Kyiv and the targeting of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra on June 14, 2026, delivered the next day at the United Nations.

 

Kyiv

Putin sends a message to G7 and European Council summits this week: he bets on terror instead of diplomacy. 

I urge the G7 and European leaders to hear this message well and ensure a proper response: stronger air defense for Ukraine and pressure on the aggressor. 

At least four dead and almost 30 injured in Kyiv as a result of Russia’s massive attack with the use of over 60 missiles and hundreds of drones. 

Russia also killed five first responders in a vile double-tap strike on Kharkiv. 

There have been more casualties across Ukraine in Dnipro, Kharkiv, Donetsk, Sumy, Mykolayiv, Zaporizhzhia, and other regions.  

As the 21st century’s worst barbarian, Putin specifically targeted unique religious and cultural sites.  

Russians severely damaged the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra; bombed the historic Oleksandr Dovzhenko Film Studios, destroying Ukraine’s largest and oldest costumes collection; struck the Kharkiv Art Museum and the Dnipro House Of Organ And Chamber Music. 

Russia has no justification for ruining lives, targeting residential areas, and destroying Ukrainian culture. It must be held accountable for its crimes. 

This attack demonstrates the urgent need to strengthen Ukraine’s air defense. This is priority number one. Additional contributions to PURL, strong decisions to provide Ukraine with air defense systems and interceptors. 

We also urge our partners to speed up the Ukraine-led European effort to develop our own protection from ballistic threats. It is time to deprive barbarians such as Putin from their terrorist tools

 

Kyiv Pechersk Lavra

By striking the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, one of the greatest holy sites of Christianity, Putin has forever put his name on the list of history’s worst barbarians. 

He should be damned for centuries. And he will lose this war.

From the Horde in the 13th century to the Nazis and Bolsheviks in the 20th century, Kyiv’s sacred monasteries have suffered numerous barbarically attacks.

Now we are dealing with Russian terrorists who have already outmatched ISIS in their crimes against cultural heritage. Only Russian scum who have nothing sacred can deliberately damage the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, a unique UNESCO heritage site under special protection.

We will be urgently initiating all relevant procedures within UNESCO and all other international mechanisms, demanding immediate and adequate responses to this state barbarism. 

We expect strong reactions by international institutions and capitals. No vague words, silence, or weak steps. We need action now to stop Russian barbarism.

 

Remember this when next time you find yourself in a situation, where you may be compelled to shake hands with a Russian. His or her hand may be blood soaked or soiled with debris from one or another destroyed Ukrainian religious shrine.