Two Kyiv Appeals to Free World You may Have Overlooked

Amid global distractions from critical issues pertaining to Ukrainian survival, two Kyiv government departments issued stark reminders to the world that Ukraine continues to face every day deadly threats at the hands of Russia.

The Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada – its parliament that is dominated by President Zelenskyy’s Servant of the People party – adopted on April 30 a resolution addressed to legislative bodies around the world jogging their memories about Russia’s six-year war against Ukraine – Europe’s first major war in decades. Three hundred and nine legislators voted for the statement which also asked the international community to condemn Russian aggression, according to parliamentary documents and media reports.

“The Verkhovna Rada calls on the parliaments of foreign states and parliamentary assemblies of international organizations to condemn the actions of the Russian Federation against the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine, as such that contradict the generally recognized principles and norms of international law, to increase political, diplomatic and sanction pressure on the state-occupant  until the complete cessation of armed aggression and the restoration of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized national borders,” reads the document.

In addition, the resolution formally called “On the appeal of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to the parliaments of foreign states and parliamentary assemblies of international organizations to condemn the continued armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, the illegal annexation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, and the occupation of certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, political repressions of citizens of Ukraine and release of political prisoners – citizens of Ukraine” (No.3068), called on world parliaments to maintain non-recognition of Russia’s armed annexation of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol and to condemn the Russian occupiers’ violation of fundamental human rights and freedoms in the temporarily occupied territories.

The Verkhovna Rada urged parliaments and parliamentary assemblies to use all possible international political-diplomatic and sanction mechanisms to force Russia to immediately release all persons captured during the ongoing Russian war against Ukraine, as well as all other Ukrainian citizens illegally detained by Moscow in the temporarily occupied territories of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Sevastopol, certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions and in the Russia.

Addressing the Kremlin, Ukrainian parliamentarians demanded that Russia refrain from aggressive actions in the Black Sea region, blocking commercial navigation in some areas in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov under a pretext of military exercises, blocking Ukrainian ports using hybrid methods, and to follow all norms and provisions of international maritime law.

The lawmakers insisted that Russia lift the ban on the activities of the Mejlis (the executive-representative body) of the Crimean Tatar People, and provide access to education in Ukrainian, and condemned Russian persecution of individuals for expressing their views, opinions, conscience and religion, participate in peaceful meetings, associations, and demand the free development of traditions and cultural identity in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.

Furthermore they demanded that Russia stop the deportation of civilians in the temporarily occupied Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, as well as movement of Russian citizens to the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, which leads to a change in the demographic composition of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol.

The Verkhovna Rada also called on foreign legislatures to condemn the illegal construction by Russia of a bridge across the Kerch Strait and calls on it to provide full access for international human rights organizations to the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine to monitor human rights.

None of the issues raised in this resolution are new to Ukrainian watchers so their reiteration by lawmaking bodies such as the US Congress would not only be morally justified but also a resounding sign of solidarity with Ukraine in its time of need. It would also be a hot poker in Russia’s eye.

Odesa Battle

The second matter pertains to a Russian-instigated insurrection in the southern Ukrainian city of Odesa on May 2, 2014, in the first months of Moscow’s war against Ukraine, after Crimea was seized and battles began raging in Donbas. A Ukrainian loss in Odesa then could have constituted the opening of another deadly front for Russia’s invading armies.

Despite Russian propaganda that blamed the incident and bloodshed on Ukrainian activists and halfhearted official interest in the uprising, according to the Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group (http://khpg.org/en/index.php?id=1588256904), a Council of Europe’s International Advisory Panel confirmed that the riot arose after a group of pro-Russian anti-Maidan activists from the recently formed (and seemingly Russian-funded) Odesskaya Druzhyna attacked a peaceful march for Ukrainian unity. The violence escalated, with weapons and firearms used by both sides, and spun out of control particularly after news of the first death – that of Ihor Ivanov, a Maidan activist.  Six people were killed, four of them anti-Maidan activists.

Pro-unity activists then moved to Kulikovo Pole Square with the intention to destroy an anti-Maidan tent camp, where they were shot at by pro-Russian activists from inside and on the roof of the Trade Unions building.

Evidence is still being collected that is building a strong case against perpetrators from the pro-Russian, anti-Maidan cabal. It is also not presenting local officials in a favorable pro-Ukrainian light.

Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday, May 3, expressed its warranted sympathy for the deceased while condemning Russia for provoking the bloody skirmish on Ukrainian territory. The Ministry said:

“On this sorrowful day, when we mark six years since the tragic events in Odesa, the MFA of Ukraine deplores the hypocrisy of the Russian propaganda that continues exploiting this tragedy to incite hostility and hatred.

“The events in Odesa on May 2, 2014, became another element in a chain of provocations that the Russian Federation resorted to in pursuit of its failed project of ‘Novorossiya,’ aimed at destabilizing Ukraine’s East and South as well as disintegrating Ukraine. 

“Extremist forces in Odesa followed the same scenario masterminded earlier by Russia in Donbas – they proclaimed a fake ‘people’s republic,’ initiated violent riots with the use of arms and support by militants from outside, intimidated local activists, tried to paralyze local authorities and security forces.       

“The 2nd of May had to become a decisive day for the implementation of these plans. The attack of armed extremists under Russian flags against a peaceful rally supporting the unity of Ukraine triggered further events and led to first casualties. It speaks volumes that in its statements on the matter, the Russian side has never mentioned bloody events in the city center, which preceded the fire in the Trade Unions House. Russia has also been silent about the established facts of ignitions inside the Trade Unions House, as well as about pro-unity activists rescuing people trapped in the burning Trade Unions House.  

“Ukrainian law enforcement agencies do their best to identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice. As a result of criminal investigations of the events in Odesa on May 2, 2014, 37 charging documents were filed with the court. Three individuals were convicted. The State Investigations Bureau carries out a separate pre-trial investigation under criminal proceedings on a suspected involvement of Russian secret services in the organization of violent riots in Odesa.   

“Russia seems to be the only party not interested in establishing the true picture of tragic events in Odesa or the causes of the tragedy. Not only did Moscow cover up Dmytro Fuchedzhy, former deputy chief of the Head Office of the Ministry of Interior in Odesa region and one of the main suspects of the investigation, but reportedly granted him Russian citizenship and refused Ukraine's bid for his extradition under this pretext.”

“Moreover, during the negotiations on the mutual release of detained persons in September-December 2019, Russia insisted that Ukraine hand over at least nine individuals, who were direct or indirect organizers and participants of the violent riots in Odesa under Russian flags.

“We call on the international community to intensify common efforts to counter Russian propaganda and disinformation, which are significant elements of the Russian aggression and destabilizing activities against Ukraine and other democratic states.”

While fortunately Odesa was rescued and pro-Russian extremists repelled, the war goes on. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba has rejected the possibility of direct dialogue with pro-Russian militants in occupied Donbas promoted by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at the Normandy format ministerial video conference. The Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine continues to uncover more and more evidence of the Russian military presence in Ukraine.

Ukrainian soldiers are singlehandedly fighting and shedding their blood in defense of Ukraine and the nation as well as in a larger picture Europe all the way to the Atlantic. The free world must take notice of this or be prepared to summon Ukrainian servicemen and women to save it from Russian aggression.