ISLAMABAD: The Ambassador of Ukraine to Pakistan, H.E. Markiian Chuchuk, has issued a strong rebuttal to a statement released by the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Pakistan on December 11, describing it as an example of “hybrid information warfare” rooted in “propaganda, disinformation, factual distortion, and legal nihilism.”
In an official response titled “Response to Disinformation: Deconstructing the Russian Narrative,” the Ukrainian envoy categorically rejected Russia’s characterization of the war as a “conflict in Ukraine” or a “Ukrainian crisis,” stating that such terms are “misleading euphemisms” designed to “blur the distinction between the aggressor and the victim.”
The statement emphasized that Russia’s actions since 2014 including the illegal annexation of Crimea, the hybrid war in Donbas, and the full-scale invasion launched on February 24, 2022 constitute an international armed conflict and an act of aggression under international law. According to the Ambassador, Russia’s actions fall under the definition of aggression pursuant to UN General Assembly Resolution 3314 (XXIX) and represent a clear violation of Article 2(4) of the UN Charter.
Rejecting claims that external forces provoked the war, Ambassador Chuchuk stated that “the sole source of the war is the armed invasion of regular Russian forces into Ukraine,” pointing to multiple UN General Assembly resolutions that condemn Russia’s actions, including Resolution 68/262, ES-11/1, and ES-11/5.
Addressing humanitarian concerns, the statement strongly condemned Russia’s actions against Ukrainian children. It said that children were removed from occupied territories under the guise of “evacuation,” separated from parents during “filtration” procedures, and subjected to “re-education, re-indoctrination, militarization, and forced citizenship changes,” describing these actions as elements of genocide.
The Ambassador cited official figures acknowledging the scale of deportations, including public admissions by Russian officials of “settling” over 700,000 Ukrainian children in Russia. He recalled that on 17 March 2023, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants against Russian President Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova for alleged war crimes related to unlawful deportation of children.
The statement dismissed Russia’s criticism of international accountability mechanisms, stating that the Register of Damage and future tribunal efforts are lawful and legitimate. It said that freezing and confiscation of Russian assets are not “theft,” but enforcement of the aggressor’s obligation to provide reparations for violations of peremptory norms of international law.
Ambassador Chuchuk also rejected Russian claims questioning the legitimacy of Ukraine’s leadership, stating that elections cannot be held during wartime due to security reasons and constitutional provisions. He stressed that allegations of “usurpation of power” are “legally null and void” and that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly confirmed readiness to hold elections when conditions permit.
Expressing serious concern, the statement condemned references to nuclear weapons systems, describing them as direct threats and a grave violation of international law. It noted that such rhetoric, issued at an official diplomatic level, demonstrates Russia’s willingness to resort to weapons of mass destruction.
The Ukrainian envoy further criticized Russia’s use of anti-colonial rhetoric, stating that Moscow is waging a “colonial war in the twenty-first century” while attempting to manipulate countries of the Global South. He rejected any suggestion that Pakistan’s neutrality equates to support for Russian aggression, calling such interpretations “a gross manipulation.”
The statement concluded with gratitude to Pakistan, affirming appreciation for its support of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and reiterating that Ukraine remains committed to negotiations and “a just and lasting peace based on international law and the UN Charter.
