Russia must realize it can never win in Ukraine - Britain in OSCE

This was stated by Ian Stubbs, the senior military advisor of the UK delegation in the OSCE, who addressed the Forum on Security Cooperation in Vienna on Wednesday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"Over the past week, Russia has again conducted massive missile and UAV strikes against inhabited areas across Ukraine, with minimal regard to discrimination or proportionality. Of note, on Monday, the Ukrainian Red Cross reported that a missile strike completely destroyed 1,000 square meters of humanitarian aid stored in a large warehouse for the Odesa region. Such attacks by Russia seek to punish the Ukrainian people and to spread terror. They are cruel acts of vengeance and a disgraceful manifestation of the failure of the Russian military leadership," he said.

The British diplomat also pointed out that Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, attacks on innocent civilians and their homes, as well as large-scale atrocities "corrupt the memory of past sacrifices and Russia’s once-proud global reputation."

"Europe has terrible memories of the totalitarian regimes of the 1930s and 1940s, with their disregard for human life, cultural heritage, territory and sovereignty of smaller states. Moscow’s actions now corrupt the memory of all those who fought against tyranny and paid the ultimate sacrifice in the belief that they would save future generations from the scourge of war," he added.

According to Stubbs, this year's celebration of Victory Day by Moscow "highlights the failings of its invasion of Ukraine."

"The cancellation of many military parades and Immortal Regiment processions across Russia hints at the grim reality of its enormous losses that beyond the many innocent Ukrainian victims, young Russian men are being killed in their thousands in the name of Putin’s war - leaving mothers without sons, wives without husbands, and children without fathers," British diplomat said.

He noted that in its desperate attempts to replenish army ranks, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation intensified the campaign to hire convicts. According to reports, up to 10,000 convicts were recruited in April 2023 alone. In addition, efforts are being made to recruit labor migrants from Central Asia.

The representative of the British mission to the OSCE emphasized that the Kremlin's persistent and institutional poor decision-making “is having a terrible impact on the Russian people – more needless deaths; more grieving families; more defeats; more demoralized troops; more discontent; and more isolation.”

"Russia must realize that it can never win in Ukraine. If it keeps fighting, it will keep losing. We do not underestimate the continuing threat posed by the Russian Federation but, in time, there will be cause for Ukraine to celebrate. Ukraine will continue to demonstrate their resolute courage, determination and enduring moral strength as they fight to liberate more of their homeland. Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence will be fully restored. The UK and the international community will remain steadfast in our support – we will stand by Ukraine for however long it takes.," said the military adviser to the UK delegation to the OSCE.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, during the meeting of the OSCE Security Cooperation Forum, the Lithuanian diplomat showed the Ukrainian flag sent to him by Ukrainian soldiers from the frontline, with the words "Keep standing with Ukraine!" and "Together to victory!"