Ukraine at OSCE: Russia sowing rape, violence and murder

“As the war continues, Russia is committing ever new and more horrendous war crimes and crimes against humanity. Russia systematically undermines all principles on which peace and security in Europe rest. Russia sows rape, violence and murder – this is what the Russian world stands for,” Ambassador Yevhenii Tsymbaliuk, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the International Organizations in Vienna, said at the OSCE Permanent Council meeting on March 31.

“Russia breaks dreams, plans and lives,” Ukraine’s Ambassador underscored.

He told the delegations a story of 11-year-old Milena who, as other 60% of all children living in Ukraine, was forced to flee her home in search of safety. Russian occupiers shot the girl in the face when her family was trying to escape the besieged Mariupol. “But what wrong did she do? Is she just wrong for being a Ukrainian child? Thank God, she is recovering now,” Tsymbaliuk said.

The diplomat noted that 143 children had been already killed during the conflict, and a further 216 children had been injured. “The true toll is likely to be much higher,” he noted.

Tsymbaliuk added that was how extremists and terrorists acted across the world: they kill children and women who are the future of any country.

“Just look what the Russian so-called ‘army’ is doing in Ukraine. They are targeting any educational building, such as kindergartens, schools, universities, as well as utility facilities, shelters and hospitals, and food storages. There is nothing sacred for Russian soldiers and their command. They destroy even churches and Holocaust memorials!” Ukraine’s Permanent Representative to the International Organizations in Vienna said.

On February 24, Russian president Vladimir Putin started a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russian troops shell and destroy key infrastructure, massively fire on residential areas of Ukrainian cities, towns, and villages using artillery, MLRS, and ballistic missiles.

ol