UK military advisor Ian Stubbs says that thousands of Russians
continue to pay the price for the tactics of a desperate Russian
military leadership.
"Thank you, Mr Chair. When Russia launched its brutal and illegal
full-scale invasion of Ukraine a year ago, President Putin
expected to succeed within a few weeks. Twelve months later,
reports indicate that approximately 800 Russian soldiers a day
are dying for his hopeless ambitions.
Since November, we have seen Russian forces make an effort to
advance on multiple fronts. However, with poorly trained and
equipped mobilised reserves and convicts making up much of the
mass, Russian forces have not been able to deploy effectively
enough to break through. Any tactical gains Russia has managed
have come at huge cost. Thousands of Russians continue to pay the
price for their frustrated Russian military leaders, who have
doubled down on flawed blunt edged attritional tactics in place
of effective leadership.
In the face of these setbacks, the Kremlin has adopted a strategy
of long-range missiles strikes on critical national
infrastructure which deliberately aim to spread terror amongst
civilians in Ukraine. Many of these strikes by Russian forces
have no military value. Russia’s continued violations of
international law and increased targeting of civilians indicates
systemic moral bankruptcy. It is a cynical and calculated
strategy of wanton destruction. It is a strategy that will fail
and another sign of the Kremlin’s desperation.
In contrast, during Ukraine’s autumn counter offensive, Ukraine
achieved significant momentum, pushing Russia out of the
northeast and southern parts of the country. Ukraine has
liberated over half of the territory Russia seized since 24
February 2022. Ukraine has also hugely increased its success in
shooting down Russian missiles, and despite its overwhelming
numerical advantage in aircraft, Russia still has not been able
to achieve air superiority over Ukraine.
Mr Chair, it is undeniable that President Putin badly
miscalculated in Ukraine. And yet, his government officials and
diplomats have repeatedly censored free speech and peddled
disinformation to try and cover up his lies. And the lies
continue.
In this Forum on 26 January, our Russian colleague stated that
Russia “has never set out to destroy Ukraine as a State”. That is
blatantly false. On 25 November 2021, as Russia continued its
build-up of pre-invasion forces, our Russian colleague called
upon the West to “temper their ardour” and “prevent any further
escalation, which could lead to lamentable consequences,
including the collapse of Ukrainian statehood”. As Russia has
rained down missiles on Ukraine - reducing entire cities, towns
and villages to rubble, killing and injuring thousands of
innocent civilians - it is all too clear to everyone who is
threatening whose statehood.
Last week, our Russian colleague again pursued the tired false
narrative that Russia is the victim and NATO the aggressor. I
would remind our Russian colleague that the facts tell a
different story: NATO didn’t invade Ukraine. Russia did. Before
Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014, there was no NATO
Enhanced Forward Presence. In response to Russia’s use of
military force against Ukraine, NATO deployed four multinational
battlegroups to the Baltic States and Poland in 2016. These
and NATO’s subsequent deployments to protect its members are a
direct result of Russia’s aggressive actions in 2014 and its
full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year. Russia, and only
Russia, is responsible.
Mr Chair, those complicit in the Kremlin’s unprovoked aggression
and those who peddle its blizzard of lies to hide the truth from
the Russian people should be ashamed. Putin’s war of choice has
led the Russian people into a quagmire and turned Russia into an
international pariah. The only thing Russia will achieve in
Ukraine is dishonour, disgrace and defeat.
Ukraine will win. It can rely on continued steadfast support from
the UK and other partners. We remain unwavering in our commitment
to the principles of the UN Charter. We will keep the promises we
have made to the Ukrainian people and will give them all the help
they need, for as long as it takes, until Ukraine prevails.
Giving Ukraine the support it needs to defend itself and push
Russia out of its sovereign territory is the swiftest and only
path to a just and lasting peace. Thank you."
