U.S. ambassador pledges support for Ukraine and Crimean Tatars

U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink has declared her support for Crimean Tatars on the Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Deportations of Crimean Tatars.

The diplomat posted her video address on Twitter, Ukrinform reports.

"Russia has sought to wipe out Crimean Tatar culture, heritage, identity, and memory. On Day of Deportation of Crimean Tatars, the United States stands with Ukraine and with Crimean Tatars. Crimea is Ukraine," Brink said.

She noted that 79 years has not erased the trauma of the mass Soviet deportation of more than 230,000 Crimean Tatars from their homeland. Russian occupation authorities have only intensified their repression in Crimea since the beginning of their unjust, unprovoked full-scale war against Ukraine, she said.

The U.S. diplomat recalled that Russian forces have sought to wipe out Crimean Tatar culture, heritage, identity and memory, even denying them the right to publicly recognize the mass deportation.

"Russia's campaign of political persecution continues as part of Russia's attack on Ukraine's rich heritage and cultural diversity. I see the resilience and strength of Crimean Tatars, woven into the family of all Ukrainians resisting," she said.

On May 18, Ukraine celebrates the Day of Struggle for the Rights of the Crimean Tatar People and honors the memory of the victims of the Crimean Tatar deportation.