UK at OSCE: Russian forces have taken SMM staff members captive in eastern Ukraine

23.04.2022 09:16

Ukrinform

Russia’s proxies in eastern Ukraine are threatening the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission staff, and Russian forces have taken SMM staff members captive.

“We have received alarming reports that Russia’s proxies in Donbas are threatening Mission staff, equipment and premises and that Russian forces have taken SMM staff members captive. We condemn these threats to this Mission and its dedicated personnel in the strongest possible terms. We call for the release of SMM staff members, as well as all Ukrainians detained by Russia,” Deirdre Brown, Deputy Head of UK Delegation to OSCE, said at the OSCE Permanent Council meeting on April 22.

The diplomat pointed out the Kremlin's constant spreading lies and disinformation about the situation in Ukraine and the inevitability of punishment for Russia's crimes.

“Let us be clear: the world sees through the Kremlin’s lies. The true extent of Russia’s actions in Mariupol, and in the rest of Ukraine, is yet to be revealed, but there should be no doubt that justice will be sought for these and for future violations of Russia’s obligations under the international laws that they freely signed up to,” Brown stressed.

The Deputy Head of UK Delegation to OSCE stressed that the United Kingdom would continue to help Ukraine to defend itself by increasing military support of lethal and non-lethal aid, bringing the total so far to £450m.

“Ukraine is fighting for the right of its citizens to live peacefully in its own territory. The UK stands with Ukraine and will always defend the Ukrainian people’s right to choose their own destiny,” Brown said.

Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the International Organizations in Vienna Yevhenii Tsymbaliuk said at a special meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna on Friday that Russia was acting as a terrorist state in the war against Ukraine, launching strikes on cities, critical infrastructure, and residential neighborhoods to make Ukrainians feel constant danger. The diplomat also noted that Russia was resorting to terrorist methods in the temporarily occupied territories, in particular, in Kherson region, where Moscow wanted to hold a fictitious "referendum" aimed at legitimizing the occupation of the region.

Having no people’s support, Russian soldiers continue to abduct local officials, activists and journalists, implementing a model tested in occupied Crimea.