Explaining complex things in simple words: memory of fallen journalists, European Parliament’s support, Crimea is Ukraine

The Center for Strategic Communication and Information Security pursues efforts to provide a brief explanation to foreign audiences on the current topics of particular interest as regards Ukraine.

MEMORY OF FALLEN JOURNALISTS

The Memorial Day of Ukrainian Journalists is celebrated in Ukraine every year on the third Friday of September. This year, it falls on September 20.

• Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation on the territory of Ukraine, the invaders have killed at least 98 media workers: during the performance of their professional duties, as private individuals, as well as journalists who defended their country in the ranks of the Defense Forces of Ukraine.

• During the Russian-Ukrainian war, Ukrainian and foreign journalists died from shelling of peaceful settlements, became victims of targeted attacks in the war zone, victims of abductions, torture, and executions by the Russian invaders.

• If Moscow had not unleashed this shameful war, all of them could continue to work successfully, creating quality informational content for their audience.

• The journalist's mission is to convey the truth to people. And since Russia

is fighting against the truth, independent journalists are its bitter enemies.

• In contrast to objective journalism, Russia has created an industry of lies that produces propaganda, disinformation, sows hatred, and incites genocide around the clock.

• Russian propagandists are the same criminals as those Russians who kill Ukrainians with weapons. And therefore, they must suffer punishment.

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT’S SUPPORT

On September 19, the European Parliament has adopted a resolution supporting Ukraine.

• The European Parliament called on the EU countries to immediately

remove all restrictions on to strikes by Western weapons on legitimate targets on the territory of Russia.

• Without the lifting of current restrictions, Ukraine cannot fully exercise its right to self-defense and remains vulnerable to attacks on its population and infrastructure.

• The European Parliament called to accelerate the supply of weapons, air defense systems, and ammunition, including Taurus missiles.

• The resolution calls on the EU member states to continue and expand the sanctions’ policy against the Russian Federation, Belarus, as well as countries and organisations that provide Russia with military and dual-purpose technologies.

• Any peace plan must be based on full respect for the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Ukraine.

• Responsibility for Russian war crimes, reparations and other payments from Moscow are important aspects of any decision.

CRIMEA IS UKRAINE

On September 19, during a speech at the 20th meeting of the Yalta European Strategy (YES), the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland, Radosław Sikorski, proposed to transfer Crimea under a UN mandate for 20 years to prepare a “fair referendum”.

• The territorial integrity of Ukraine has never been and cannot be a subject for discussion or compromise. Crimea is Ukraine.

• Crimea is a significant centre of the European security architecture. Its full restoration is possible only after the complete de-occupation of the entire territory of Ukraine, including the Ukrainian peninsula.

• The Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people considers Sikorski's statements unacceptable and cynical. And also, those that do not meet the national interests of Ukraine as well as the rights and interests of the indigenous Crimean Tatar people.

• Even hints about the possibility of a compromise on the issue of the territorial integrity of Ukraine greatly harm the cause of repelling Russian aggression and de-occupation of the temporary occupied

territories.

• We hope that Sikorski's speech does not reflect the official position of Poland regarding the territorial integrity of Ukraine.