Vadym Omelchenko also accuses the Russian army of “using civilians as a shield”, in an interview with the Parisian.
The Ukrainian ambassador in Paris does not mince his words. In an interview given to Parisian published on Saturday, the representative of kyiv in Paris believes that the Russian strikes targeting energy infrastructure in Ukraine are “notnot a new strategy“. It is “barbarian bombings“, according to a modus operandi specific to Moscow. “It is the choice of a man who has no limits, able to accept casualties in his ranks and kill civilians without scruple“says the diplomat. “Remember the Aleppo tragedy. They destroyed infrastructure, bombed hospitals to scare people away and take over empty towns».
The diplomat does not think so well when he affirms that “power cuts in waves begin“. During the night from Friday to Saturday, 36 rocket attacks fell on energy supplier sites. In the face of these attacks,the Ukrainian people are mobilizing very strongly“, and the restrictions requested by the authorities are”calmly acceptedby the population, welcomes Vadym Omelchenko. Since mid-October, Ukrainians have already voluntarily reduced their electricity consumption by 5% to 20% on average on certain days and in certain regions, according to the boss of Ukrenergo.
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Destruction du barrage de Kakhovka ?
Asked about Kherson, a southern city under Russian control where Ukrainian forces are carrying out an offensive, the diplomat also accuses the Russians of “using civilians as shields». «We have seen this several times: when the Russians fled, they formed convoys mixing civilians and soldiers to prevent us from bombing“, he explains. While the pro-Russian administration has been evacuating civilians since Wednesday, the ambassador sees in it the possible “signal of a new plan of the Russian leadership». «We do not exclude that they will destroy the Kakhovka dam, to flood the territories“, he advances.
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The diplomat goes even further:The possibility of a tactical nuclear strike cannot be ruled outWhen Ukrainian troops take over the strategic city, he warns. Does the caution of France, which President Emmanuel Macron has warned that he would not respond to in the event of a nuclear attack on Ukrainian soil, disappoint him? “I’ve heard a lot of criticism about it. I don’t share them“replies the ambassador. “What matters to us are not words but actions. France’s position satisfies us: a position of full partner».
The diplomat finally warns against relays of Russian propaganda in France. “Here’s how to tell them apart. If you hear an expert pleading for a ceasefire and urging Ukraine to negotiate, know that you are dealing with this network of Russian influence“, he says. Any economist who believes that “the economic crisis and the energy crisis are closely linked to the war in Ukraineis also an echo of Moscow propaganda. “These two things are not so correlated“says the diplomat, while France expects a harsh winter against a backdrop of energy crisis.