Politics

Volodymyr Zelenskyy rips Russia apart in UNSC address. 6 points

Mohammad BilalApril 6, 2022 | 15:11 IST

It has been more than 40 days since Russia invaded Ukraine. According to Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), around 1,480 civilian casualties have occurred since Russian's invasion of Ukraine.

123 of the civilian casualties are reported to be children. Furthermore, 2,195 people are reported to have been injured so far.

A fresh spate of attacks by Russia in Kyiv's suburb Bucha has become the talking point at the moment. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claims that the Russian Army is committing the worst human atrocities in Bucha.

The Ukrainian human rights ombudsman said that between 150 and 300 bodies may be in mass graves next to a church in the northern Ukrainian town of Bucha. On the other hand, Russia has called the allegations “monstrous forgery” aimed at denigrating the army.

On Tuesday, Zelenskyy through video-conferencing, appeared before the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and appealed for help. He also lashed out at the Russian military forces of killing and abducting Ukrainian people. He also commented on the UNSC’s role in war crimes like these.

Here are highlights from Zelenskyy's speech at the UNSC:

1. THE ATROCITIES BY RUSSIA

Zelenskyy held up the insane war crimes done by Russian armed forces in Ukraine’s Bucha. He said that the troops killed women and even entire families. “They cut off the limbs and their throats. Women were raped and killed in front of their children. Their tongues were pulled out because the aggressors did not want to hear them,” said Zelenskyy.

The Ukraine President also said that civilians were crushed by tanks as they sat in their cars.

2. ACT IMMEDIATELY OR CLOSE DOWN UNSC

UNSC. Photo: Getty Images

Zelenskyy, in his address, also charged at the UNSC for being a mute spectator till now. “The UNSC can be simply closed. Ladies and gentlemen, are you ready to close UNSC? If your answer is no, you need to act immediately,” said Zelenskyy.

He said that the UN charter must be restored and the UN system must be restored. He also said that the massacre from Syria to Somalia and from Afghanistan to Libya should have been stopped a long time ago.

3. A TRIBUNAL LIKE NUREMBERG FOR RUSSIAN MILITARY

Zelenskyy mentioned that a separate tribunal like the Nuremberg tribunal should be held for the Russian military officers who gave the order for crimes in Ukraine. “Anyone who gave the criminal orders should be brought before the tribunal,” said Zelenskyy.

Zelenskyy brought up the Holocaust and Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann to talk about the atrocities being commited by Russia in Ukraine.

He urged the UNSC to ensure that the Russian military war criminals don’t go unpunished, “I would like to remind you that Adolf Eichmann [one of the main criminals of the Holocaust] did not go unpunished.”

Mossad captured Adolf Eichmann in Argentina, he was subsequently found guilty of war crimes, and executed in Tel Aviv, Israel, in 1962. 

4. RUSSIAN TROOPS DELIBERATELY DESTROYING CITIES

Photo: Reuters

Zelenskyy complained to the UNSC members that the Russian troops were deliberately destroying Ukrainian cities by airstrikes, "They deliberately blew up shelters where civilians hid from airstrikes. They are creating conditions in the temporarily occupied places to make sure as many civilians as possible are being killed. The massacre at Bucha is one of the many examples of what Russian forces have been doing."

The Ukraine President gave the example of Mariupol and Kharkiv and several other cities that the Russian military has reduced to rubble, similar to Bucha.

5. HAVE EVIDENCE

Zelenskyy also said that he has conclusive evidence against Russian military, including satellite images which show the war crimes committed by the Russian troops. “I am sure every member of UN State should be interested in this and in punishing those who consider themselves immune [to consequences]. Show all the other war criminals how they will be punished if the biggest one is punished,” Zelenskyy said, pointing at Russian President Vladimir Putin.

6. WHAT RUSSIA WANTS, ACCORDING TO ZELENSKYY

Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Photo: AP

Zelenskyy said that Russia wants to usurp Ukraine of all its wealth. He said that Russia’s leadership feels like colonisers of ancient times. “They need our wealth, our people. They have already deported thousands of our people to Russia. They abducted 200 children too,” said Zelenskyy.

He lashed out at the Russian military for openly looting the villages and towns. “If this continues, all countries will have to rely only on their own armed forces, instead of an international law, for their security,” said Zelenskyy.

He also said that Russia wanted to convert Ukraine into silent slaves.

In the end, Zelenskyy said that Ukraine needs UNSC to arrive at a decision to ensure peace in Ukraine. He asked the UNSC to take immediate steps to restore peace in Ukraine and bring to book the perpetrators of the crimes. “Or if you have no other option, just dissolve yourself,” Zelenskyy said, concluding his speech at the UNSC.

Last updated: April 06, 2022 | 15:11
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