For several days, Kharkiv, the second city of Ukraine, has been subjected to bombardments of unprecedented intensity. At least twenty-five civilians have been killed since the start of the Russian offensive, Thursday, February 24, in this Russian-speaking city of 1.4 million inhabitants, located very close to Russia, 30 km away. Many buildings were affected, including a hospital and residential areas. The city’s administrative headquarters was also destroyed by missile fire on 1is March, on the symbolic Place de la Liberté, in the heart of the city.
It was in this building that Sergei Anatolyevich, the leader of the pro-Russian opposition platform For Life in the Kharkiv regional council, worked. At the national level, the leader of this party, the oligarch Viktor Medvedchuk, is well known: he is a close friend of Vladimir Putin, of whom he is the unofficial representative in Ukraine.
In Kharkiv, Mr. Anatolyevich nevertheless shares his ” anger “ after the Russian offensive. In an interview given to World from his bomb shelter, this pro-Russian elected official denounces one “huge mistake by Russia” and the “war crimes” it commits by attacking civilians. This unprecedented position marks a turning point and could augur a profound change in the way pro-Russians in Ukraine view Russia.
How do you react to the Russian offensive?
I am very angry. Fear turned into hatred towards the Russian leaders and military who gave the order to shoot civilians. Russian military aggression has ended our once friendly relations. Shooting civilians with missiles is a crime against humanity.
The Russians also bombed the public company DNVP Obiednannia Komunar. It is a unique company that has fully maintained its aircraft manufacturing potential and has, until recently, participated in space projects. At 1is January, it had 1,200 employees. But now Russia, which until recently was their partner, has set about destroying it in a barbaric way. It is despicable!
We have defended economic ties with Russia and friendship with our neighbors, but with today’s aggression they have closed all the doors.
Do you understand why Russia is attacking Ukraine?
No, I don’t know why. I don’t understand soldiers who pull the trigger knowing that civilians are going to die. After all, they shoot their parents and friends! I could not believe that there would be an offensive, but it is unfortunately the reality. This is a huge mistake on Russia’s part. Even today, there were bombardments. Every day, peaceful people die. Children become orphans.
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