Serhii Pohoreltsev – Ukrainian Ambassador to Spain
Faced with the collapse of the invasion, kyiv fears that Russia will carry out extreme attacks, especially on the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant
The Ukrainian ambassador to Spain, Serhii Pohoreltsev, was surprised by the announcement that Vladimir Putin is going to mobilize up to 300,000 troops to try to prevent the total failure of the invasion of his country this Wednesday in Gernika. Faced with the photographs of the devastation caused by the Nazi bombing, an irony considering that Putin accuses the Government of Volodímir Zelensky of having the same ideology as Hitler, he was confident in the ability of the Ukrainian Armed Forces to repel the attack Russian and recover the lost territory. “Not only since the invasion that began on February 24, but since the one that began in 2014,” he says, referring to the occupation of Crimea during an interview with EL CORREO.
The diplomat acknowledges that it will not be easy to end a war that “can only end with the victory of Ukraine”, and even less to expel Russian troops from territories where a large part of the population prefers to live under the Moscow regime, such as It happens in the Donbas. About the self-determination referendums that will be held there next weekend, he is clear: “They are illegal, they make no sense, and no civilized country will recognize their result.” For all these reasons, Pohoreltsev appreciates the support that Spain is giving him both in the political sphere and in the form of weapons. And from Gernika he takes away ideas for the next phase of the war: reconstruction.
– What assessment do you make of the mobilization decreed by Putin?
– First of all, this movement reflects the weakness of the Russian Armed Forces and the Putin regime in the face of the will of our Army to defend the country and recover the occupied territories. Second, this decision shows that Putin wants to continue the war, and that although he always says that he is willing to negotiate for peace, he has no intention of ending the invasion. On the contrary, that he will continue to bomb civilian targets, intimidating and killing the population.
– What is the situation on the ground?
– It’s hard. Although we are slowly gaining ground and have regained control of 400 towns, we are going to need more weapons and support from all our allies. Especially when it comes to heavy weapons. But, despite all the difficulties, our Armed Forces are reaping heroic success in this counteroffensive that leaves nine Russian soldiers dead for every Ukrainian killed.
– Do you think that this mobilization is a movement that will turn against Putin because of the resistance it can cause among the Russian population?
– I hope so. Unfortunately, President Putin still has significant support among his population. But there are more and more people, even in the Russian forces themselves, who no longer want to continue with the war, who show their willingness to end it so as not to have to participate in it. Even the Russian oligarchs who are part of Putin’s inner circle see that they are losing money and that their image is being damaged, because the civilized world has isolated them. So the decision to mobilize troops is not going to be positive for Putin. However, he has already shown that he rules without morality or common sense.
– Has Putin been surprised by the speed with which Ukraine has advanced in the Kharkov area?
– Putin did not think he was going to meet the resistance he is seeing. Perhaps he was misinformed by his generals. Starting the war was already crazy, and his plan is falling apart. Putin has no political future. As someone has told me, he is a pilot who plummets but still has powerful bombs on his hands.
The beginning of the end
– Do you think you can carry out some extreme action against Ukraine?
– The risk is there. Russian troops remain in the Zaporizhia nuclear plant, continue to bombard the area, and have turned the plant into the centerpiece of Putin’s nuclear blackmail. For this reason, it must be clearly told that, if something serious happens, they will have a proportional response.
– Are you worried that the energy crisis in Europe could reduce the support Ukraine receives?
– The war in Ukraine is going to drag on and it is necessary to maintain the public’s attention. There are many factors that influence the decision to supply weapons, which is the most relevant issue, and it is true that the economic situation has an influence. But our allies have to understand that we are not only fighting for our territories, but that we are the front line of the confrontation between the democratic world and tyranny.
– How long do you think the conflict will last?
– No one knows how long it will last, but I think we are at the beginning of the end.
Topics
Vladimir Putin, Armed Forces, Crimea, Spain, Europe, Gernika-Lumo, Kharkov, kyiv, Russia, Ukraine, War in Ukraine
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