The Center for Strategic Communication and Information Security pursues efforts to provide a brief explanation to foreign audiences on the current topics of particular interest as regards Ukraine.
ASSISTANCE FROM THE UNITED STATES
On 20 January, President Donald Trump signed a decree to suspend foreign aid to other countries for 90 days.
● In particular, this applies to USAID programmes, under which Ukraine has received $2.6 billion in humanitarian aid, $5 billion in development assistance, and $30 billion in direct budget support since the start of the full-scale war.
● President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has instructed the Government to report on the US support programmes in Ukraine that are currently suspended.
● It will be determined which of these programmes are critical and require immediate solutions. In particular, these include programmes to support children, veterans and infrastructure.
● The government will provide part of the budget’s funding and negotiate with the US and EU for the rest.
● The suspension of certain support programmes does not apply to military assistance that Ukraine receives from the United States.
DETAILS OF THE TERRORIST ATTACK IN OLENIVKA
The Office of the Prosecutor General provided details of the terrorist attack in Olenivka, which was carried out by Russia in 2022.
● On the night of 29 July 2022, the Russian occupiers shelled the Volnovakha penal colony in the village of Olenivka, where Ukrainian prisoners of war – defenders of Azovstal – were held.
● The terrorist attack killed at least 50 Ukrainian prisoners of war and wounded over 100.
● The Prosecutor General’s Office found that the Russia deliberately acted in such a way as to increase the number of casualties among prisoners of war after the shelling.
● This includes untimely assistance to the wounded, improper evacuation, etc. As a result, at least 9 Ukrainian defenders who survived the explosions were killed.
● The terrorist attack in Olenivka is one of Russia’s most brutal and despicable crimes, a brutal act of violation of international law.
PUTIN’S FALSE STATEMENTS
On 28 January, Putin made a series of false statements about Ukraine and possible negotiations.
● According to Putin, Moscow allegedly offered Kyiv to “withdraw from the LPR and DPR”, and then there would have been no full-scale war.
● This statement is not true, as in 2022, the Kremlin clearly stated its goal – the complete elimination of Ukrainian statehood.
● Regarding possible negotiations, Putin said that Zelensky is allegedly “illegitimate” and therefore “has no right to sign anything”.
● This is propaganda because the legitimacy of the current President of Ukraine is not questioned either in Ukraine or in the world – nowhere except in Moscow.
● Any statements made by the Kremlin about its readiness for negotiations are false, as Russia has not demonstrated any real willingness to stop its armed aggression.
● Moscow can be forced to peace only by force: by increasing aid to Ukraine and increasing sanctions and diplomatic pressure on Russia.
Source: Explaining: U.S. assistance, details of terrorist attack on Olenivka, Putin’s false statements
