Embassy comment on the anniversary of the launch of the Special Military Operation in Ukraine

In view of the newly instigated anti-Russian propaganda campaign in the UK on the occasion of the anniversary of the launch of our Special Military Operation the following should be kept in mind.

The 24th of February 2022 is a key milestone but by far not the starting point of the Ukraine crisis, which was provoked by the unconstitutional coup d’état in Kiev in 2014 with support of Western countries. The genesis of this crisis is deeply rooted and complex, however the UK authorities and media prefer to keep the local audience in the dark about its origins.

 Among the main factors are the unseemly direct involvement of London and its allies in pulling Ukraine towards NATO and the consistent militarisation of this country, including the training of Ukrainian Armed Forces that commenced years before the launch of the Special Military Operation. Also worth mentioning is the political and diplomatic cover provided to Kiev’s criminal actions against the population of Donbass – from socio-economic blockade and suppression of the Russian language to the shelling of peaceful towns of the region. 

Our patient attempts to find solution to this problem through dialogue and negotiations together with Western «partners» have yielded no success. In fact, as former senior UK officials now openly admit, London and other Western capitals treated the Minsk agreements from the very outset as “diplomatic charade” and an attempt to gain more time in order to provide more armaments to Ukraine.

In view of the numerous threats from the Neo-Nazi regime in Kiev, that was being steadily transformed into an anti-Russian “spearhead”, as well as the West’s declared neglect for our country’s legitimate concerns, Russia had no choice but to launch the Special Military Operation. It is aimed at ensuring the protection of Donbass and its people and the elimination of security threats to our country arising from the territory of Ukraine. These objectives are being successfully attained.

The decision of the inhabitants of Donbass, Kherson and Zaporozhye to turn to Russia for protection was the logical outcome of Western-sponsored policies of the Kiev authorities. The people of these regions voted last September to become part of the Russian Federation, exercising their fundamental right to self-determination – in full compliance with the norms and principles of international law. 

Today, a year since the launch of the Special Military Operation, the profound involvement of Western countries, including the UK, in the conflict and their interest in its protraction by all means have become self-evident. Hence their publicly proclaimed long-term goal – of inflicting a “strategic defeat” upon our country. To achieve it an unprecedented wave of illegitimate repressive measures has been brought down upon Russia over the last year, yet it has not knocked our country off balance. The same objective is behind the dramatic acceleration, with London’s leading role, of weapons influx to Ukraine. The supplies of modern armaments are currently on the agenda, including tanks and long-range systems, which the Ukrainian military authorities intend to use to attack the territory of Russia, irrespective of the consequences. The way is being paved for providing fighter jets to Ukraine in the future.

Along with arms shipments, military training of Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel is ongoing in the UK. Evidence of British mercenaries’ presence in Ukraine, as well as British specialists’ involvement in preparing acts of sabotage against Russian military and other critical facilities, is mounting. All of this poses risks of an unmanageable escalation. 

To remind, Russia is not at war with the people of Ukraine. In fact, Ukrainians have become victims of the criminal regime and its Western supervisors, who have turned this long-suffering country into a testing ground for reckless geopolitical ventures and latest military technologies.

It is the West and its Kiev clientele who are entirely responsible for exacerbating the conflict as well as its global consequences, including in the areas of energy and food.

We take note of the profound lack of willingness on the part of the UK and other NATO member-states to search for peaceful solutions. But even if they change their viewpoint it will take quite an effort for the West to regain Russia’s trust as well as the trust of other members of the international community. 

For its part, our country has never shied away from dialogue provided it is underpinned by a substantive basis that addresses our legitimate interests.     

Regrettably, a year since the launch of the Special Military Operation London and other capitals of NATO countries prefer to work themselves up with delusive hopes for Russia’s military defeat in the field. This is fantasy-land. 

Russia cannot be defeated. We fight to ensure a secure and fair environment for the peaceful development of our country in harmony with the international community of free and sovereign nations. Our cause is just. Regardless of all the malicious efforts by London and other Western patrons of the Kiev regime – the objectives of the Special Military Operation will be fulfilled in their entirety.