Deputy Ambassador Deirdre Brown condemns President Putin’s
disastrous invasion and the devastation, death, and suffering
that Putin has wrought.
"Thank you, Mr Chair. Welcome Mr Lukashuk, you have our support
and admiration. This Tuesday marked the 300th day of Russia’s
unprovoked and illegal invasion of Ukraine, supported by the
Belarusian regime. Over these past 300 days, President Putin’s
so-called ‘Special Military Operation’ has yet to achieve even
one of its perverse objectives. This, despite Putin believing his
military could take Kyiv in three days, and despite his claims he
had no intentions to invade his peaceful neighbour.
Putin’s failed invasion has been a disaster, resulting in the
decimation of the Russian military and economy and the loss of
tens of thousands of Russian lives. Its impact has also been felt
around the world, with Russia’s actions threatening global food
and energy security and generating economic instability in
countries thousands of miles from Moscow. This, however, pales by
comparison to the devastation, death, and suffering that Putin
has wrought on the Ukrainian people and their sovereign country.
Since this Council last met, Russia has again resorted to its
cowardly tactic of bombing Ukraine’s critical national
infrastructure, targeting the basic needs essential for the
survival of Ukraine’s population. Last Friday, critical
infrastructure across Ukraine, including in the cities of Kyiv,
Kharkiv, Kryvyi Rih and Zaporhizhzhia was targeted, once again
leaving millions of Ukrainians without heat, electricity and
running water in the dead of winter.
Last Friday, Maksym – a seven-year-old boy from Kryvyi Rih - was
orphaned when his parents Lyudmila and Oleksandr, along with his
18-month-old brother, Timofey, were killed when a Russian missile
directly hit their home. It is hard to argue that an apartment
building, the home of two little boys, could be a legitimate
military target for Russian missiles. Maksym will be facing this,
and every future Christmas season, without his family, his life
needlessly ripped apart by Russia’s horrific actions. His
heart-breaking story is one of far too many across Ukraine.
Ukrainian children want nothing more than to live their lives in
peace and freedom, with their families and friends around them,
where they are not afraid of bombs falling from the sky, or
forced to grow up in the shadow of a regime that seeks to destroy
their very identity. According to UNICEF, Russia’s attacks on
civilians and critical infrastructure have left almost every
child in Ukraine at risk, facing a cold, dark winter with both
their physical and long term mental health endangered.
Those in the temporarily Russia-controlled areas are suffering
just as deeply, with the situation in these regions deteriorating
daily. Lack of access to basic services, including safe water,
and energy supply for heating, light and communication is
endangering public health, already under strain from the lack of
adequate healthcare. As local economies decline and unemployment
rises, many in these areas continue to rely on humanitarian aid
for survival – access to which is often hampered by the Russian
authorities. Putin falsely claims that these areas are part of
Russia – yet, its proxy administrations are not even able to
provide basic services; on the contrary there are widespread
reports of theft and looting by the Russian forces and those who
claim to be in charge.
300 days since the invasion, there are no more lies Putin can
hide behind to distract from his failures. The scale of reported
atrocities and war crimes committed against the Ukrainian people
is horrifying, and evidence continues to mount. The UK, and
Ukraine’s partners, will not sit by and do nothing whilst more
Ukrainian families suffer. This Monday, whilst meeting with some
of Ukraine’s closest friends and allies, my Prime Minister
pledged to match or exceed the £2.3bn in aid for Ukraine that we
provided this year. He also committed to supply Ukraine with
ammunition and equipment to continue its defence, reinforcing our
steadfast support into 2023.
As we have stated many, many times – Putin has the ability to end
this war. He must immediately cease attacks against civilians and
civilian objects and withdraw his troops from Ukraine in
adherence with the UN charter. But, until that happens, please
know Mr Lukashuk, dear Viktoria, and colleagues here,
that the UK and the international community will remain
steadfast in our support – for however long it takes – to ensure
that the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the independence
of Ukraine is fully restored."
