The Russian ambassador’s article in The Star on March 14 will mislead readers because his statements are full of distorted information.

The ambassador speaks about a "Western information bubble" and that most people prefer "to remain in their comfort zone confining themselves to an information bubble". This statement seems to be more applicable to the citizens of Russia. They live in an information bubble built and controlled by their government, while their access to international news outlets and even social platforms is controlled, restricted or even prohibited.

More importantly, citizens of Russia choose to believe statements from one information source instead of consulting multiple sources and facing an ugly truth: their government’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine and the ensuing war crimes against the Ukrainian people.

Feelings do not negate facts: Russia is waging a war against Ukraine under a false claim of “a special operation to protect Russian-speaking people”.

No Russian-speaking Ukrainian ever asked or felt the need for protection. It is a well-known fact that Russian-speaking Ukrainians today are fearlessly fighting Russian invaders and our people are united. Those feelings of resentment against Russia of the very people they claim to be 'saving' must be a surprising revelation. 

The 'Revolution of Dignity' in 2014 was Ukrainian society’s stand to protect our pro-European choice and democratic values following the refusal of the then President Viktor Yanukovych to sign the Association Agreement with the EU and his intention to further develop a pro-Russian political course.

The actions of Yanukovych put the aspirations of Ukrainians to join the EU at risk and pushed thousands of citizens to start peaceful demonstrations. It was the expression of their free will, which is probably a challenging concept for a Russian citizen. Such lack of understanding is what ultimately leads to their fantasy of a Western conspiracy.

These peaceful protests were met by tyrannical repression: by order of the then President. Law enforcement officers using weapons killed more than 100 Euromaidan participants being killed. Today we call them the Heavenly Hundred since they gave their lives for a free European Ukraine.

Shortly after these shootings, Yanukovych fled to Russia. That provided the opportunity to hold fresh democratic presidential elections in May 2014. The Revolution of Dignity reinstated our nation's foreign policy course towards European integration.

Unfortunately, Russia could not, and will not, put up with our choices and started encroaching on Ukraine’s territorial integrity. Russian armed aggression in Ukraine started with the attempted annexation of the Crimean peninsula in February 2014 and continued with the illegal occupation of parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in Eastern Ukraine. It has culminated in the brutal war against the Ukrainian nation today.

As for the ambassador's claims about Neo-Nazi groups, I will just say that Neo-Nazis have never saved children and the elderly, which is exactly what our brave soldiers are doing, whilst Russian troops shamelessly bomb the shelters, schools and hospitals.

Finally, I am extremely doubtful that Russians are "privileged to some broader information" compared to the rest of the world. If this were so,  we would observe a totally different Russia where free speech in all its forms and manifestations is accepted. Instead we witness widespread arrests, violence and persecution of any person who voices an opinion that deviates from that of the state.

Ukraine defends and will continue to defend itself against this barbaric invasion. Although we receive boundless support from all over the world, our losses of people are irreparable. Nevertheless, I am deeply proud of my country, my people and our determination to be free. And this is something a Russian diplomat nowadays can only dream about.

My strong conviction is that Kenyans celebrate their freedoms and value their democracy guaranteed by the Constitution of Kenya. Kenyans can distinguish truth from manipulation.

The author is the Ambassador of Ukraine to Kenya

Source: The Star, Kenya https://www.the-star.co.ke/opinion/columnists/2022-03-21-pravednyk-ukraine-is-determined-to-be-free/