Voice of Ukraine

From Ira Kapitonova in Kyiv (Day 509):

Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; protect me from those who rise up against me; deliver me from those who work evil, and save me from bloodthirsty men.
Psalm 59:1‭-‬2

On this day 9 years ago (July 17, 2014), Russia shot down Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur over the East of Ukraine. All 298 people on board, including 80 children, were killed. Last year, the District Court of The Hague established that an aircraft was hit by a Russian-made Buk anti-aircraft missile system, transported from Russia to the temporarily occupied parts of the Donetsk region, where the Russia-backed criminals launched the missile. While the trial found three men guilty and sentenced them to life imprisonment in absentia, we believe that Russia, the terrorist state, must also be held accountable for putting at risk the security of the entire world. We remember the victims and will keep fighting for justice.

Today, an explosion destroyed a section of the illegally constructed Kerch Bridge, connecting the occupied Ukrainian Crimea to Russia. It is unclear if Ukrainian secret services had anything to do with it or if it was part of a Russian plan to justify its reluctance to continue the Black Sea Grain Initiative. In any case, it complicates Russian logistics, which is always good as it means more lives spared.

The discontinued grain initiative adds to the global food crisis problem. However, Ukraine is ready to stick to its end of the agreement, and Russia’s discontinuation breaches its contract with Turkey and the UN. Once again, we hope for justice in this situation as we don’t want other nations to starve because Russia is using food as bargaining.

These examples prove that this war is far more than just “a conflict between Russia and Ukraine.” It is a global threat, so we pray that the danger be removed.