UK military advisor, Ian Stubbs, says Moscow’s reprehensible
actions in Ukraine corrupt the memory of past sacrifices and
Russia’s once-proud global reputation.
"Thank you, Madam Chair. Over the past week, Russia has again
conducted massive missile and UAV strikes against inhabited areas
across Ukraine, with minimal regard to discrimination or
proportionality. Of note, on Monday, the Ukrainian Red Cross
reported that a missile strike completely destroyed 1,000 square
metres of humanitarian aid stored in a large warehouse for the
Odesa region. Such attacks by Russia seek to punish the Ukrainian
people and to spread terror. They are cruel acts of vengeance and
a disgraceful manifestation of the failure of the Russian
military leadership.
At the same time, the Kremlin and our Russian colleagues in this
room continue to attempt to distract from failures on the
battlefield with a campaign of lies, threats and propaganda. Last
week the Russian delegate repeated familiar false narratives on
confrontation. I would like to again highlight the irony of this
coming from a country which invaded Georgia in 2008, illegally
annexed Crimea in 2014 and then launched a full-scale invasion of
Ukraine on 24 February last year.
Madam Chair, the Russian leadership’s unprovoked, illegal, and
senseless invasion of Ukraine; their attacks against innocent
civilians and their homes; and their widespread atrocities
corrupt the memory of past sacrifices and Russia’s once-proud
global reputation. These actions are reprehensible and
cowardly.
Europe has terrible memories of the totalitarian regimes of the
1930s and 40s, with their disregard for human life, cultural
heritage, territory and sovereignty of smaller states. Moscow’s
actions now corrupt the memory of all those who fought against
tyranny and paid the ultimate sacrifice in the belief that they
would save future generations from the scourge of war.
We pay tribute to the sacrifice of those who fought for the
Soviet Union in the Second World War. But this year, Moscow’s
celebration of Victory Day highlights the failings of its
invasion of Ukraine. The cancellation of many military parades
and Immortal Regiment processions across Russia hints at the grim
reality of its enormous losses that beyond the many innocent
Ukrainian victims, young Russian men are being killed in their
thousands in the name of Putin’s war - leaving mothers without
sons, wives without husbands, and children without fathers.
Madam Chair, in a desperate attempt to try and replenish its
numbers, the Russian Ministry of Defence has ramped up its
recruitment campaign of prisoners for fighting in Ukraine.
Reports indicate that up to 10,000 convicts were recruited in
April 2023.
Russian military recruiters have also been targeting central
Asian migrant workers in Russia to serve in Ukraine. Recruiters
have visited mosques and immigration offices to recruit. At
immigration offices, staff who speak Tajik and Uzbek routinely
attempt to recruit migrants. Radio Free Europe reported
recruiters offering sign-up bonuses of USD $2,390 and salaries of
up to USD $4,160 a month. Migrants have also been offered a
fast-track Russian citizenship path of six months to one year,
instead of the usual five years.
However, both the convicts and migrant workers recruited by the
Russian Ministry of Defence appear to have been sent to the
Ukrainian frontlines in attritional combat where the casualty
rate is extremely high. On 3 May 2023, Russian private military
company Wagner head, Yevgeny Prigozhin, stated that his forces
had suffered 116 fatalities in one day fighting in and around
Bakhmut.
Madam Chair, the persistent and institutional poor decision
making by the Kremlin is having a terrible impact on the Russian
people – more needless deaths; more grieving families; more
defeats; more demoralised troops; more discontent; and more
isolation. Putin is creating a legacy which millions of young
Russians did not choose and did not vote for, but will be forced
to bear the cost of for years to come.
Russia must realise that it can never win in Ukraine. If it keeps
fighting, it will keep losing. We do not underestimate the
continuing threat posed by the Russian Federation but, in time,
there will be cause for Ukraine to celebrate. Ukraine will
continue to demonstrate their resolute courage, determination and
enduring moral strength as they fight to liberate more of their
homeland. Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and
independence will be fully restored. The UK and the international
community will remain steadfast in our support – we will stand by
Ukraine for however long it takes. Thank you."
