Andriy Yusov, a representative of the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, is confident that Russia will do everything possible to discredit the Ukrainian military and to make them quarrel with civilians so that Ukrainians recognize that their nation does not exist and they are part of the “Russian world.”
He expressed this opinion during his speech at the press center of the Interfax-Ukraine news agency, which took place as part of a roundtable discussion on “Ways to Strengthen Ukraine’s Social Resilience: Values-Based Expertise.”
According to Andriy Yusov, the Russians are now trying to use any situation to set Ukrainians at odds with each other. Straight talk:
Putin does not demand much. He simply says: recognize that you do not exist as a country, as a nation, recognize that you are part of the “Russian world,” and, in principle, there will be no more problems.
Therefore, they, the Russian special services, use completely different tools and such sensitive topics as the issue of missing persons and prisoners of war. And we can clearly see this – how Russian propaganda demonizes some servicemen and tries to pit them against others. We see how Russian propaganda uses any event, even a successful event and a successful exchange, to further its interests. We see how the activity of Ukrainian families is being used against Ukrainian prisoners and the state. But strategically, they fail.
Andriy Yusov also emphasized that the Kremlin regime is trying to create a split not only in Ukrainian society, but also within Europe in order to weaken support for Ukraine.
They are also trying to break this unity in order to weaken support for Ukraine in the world. But they are also failing. We see today that despite the complex geopolitical processes in the world, Europe’s position has become even more united and resolute in terms of supporting Ukraine. I think this will continue to be the case in the future. Therefore, the next test and the next attacks will be on Ukrainian unity. And of course, in this component, on the Ukrainian military. They will try to discredit them in the eyes of Ukrainian society, to explain that not everything is so clear. Discrediting the military, which enjoys enormous trust and support in the country, is certainly a component of Putin’s hybrid information war against Ukraine and Ukrainians.
We remind you that Andriy Yusov’s speech was delivered as part of a roundtable discussion on “Ways to Strengthen Ukraine’s Social Resilience: Values-Based Expertise.”
This event was organized by the Conservative Platform, a joint project of the NGO “Foundation for Promotion of Democracy” and the Hans Seidel Foundation in Ukraine.
The event was moderated by Yuriy Goncharenko, Chairman of the Ukrainian Security Club.
Leave a Reply