According to Valeria Romanova, the use of Russian nuclear weapons in the war against Ukraine would be “the end”. It would be the “end of the existing defense and security order in the world,” the Ukrainian officer said. Ukraine is “prepared for anything”.
Romanowa was invited to an OSCE security forum in Vienna on Wednesday, where the role of women in security policy was discussed. Romanova works in the General Staff of the Ukrainian Army in Kiev and deals with issues related to Ukrainian prisoners and the repatriation of killed Ukrainian soldiers.
“Nuclear Blackmail”
Even if the Ukrainian people joke about Russian nuclear threats on social networks, their country has to deal with it, Romanova said. On Thursday, the soldier referred to the attacks on the Chernobyl nuclear power plant and the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant. The threats to use nuclear weapons are also a “message to Western countries”.
Romanova explained that Ukraine is currently most in need of missile defense systems of various distances to protect its airspace, its cities and its people.
Putin wants to annex two more territories on Friday
Russian head of state Vladimir Putin said he would use all means to defend the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhia, which he plans to annex on Friday. But this time, the situation is different from when Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, Romanova stressed. This time people would have understood why it works. The so-called referendums in the “temporarily occupied territories” are “another weapon”.
Sham referendum: ‘Nobody believes these results’
“It’s not a referendum when someone knocks on your door and, accompanied by two armed Chechens, asks if you have the right opinion after all,” explained Romanova. According to official Russian figures, just over 5,000 people in the Zaporizhzhya region voted. However, that is only a fraction of the population, which was about a million before the war. “Nobody believes these results.” Ukraine would of course take back these areas, the officer emphasized in an interview with APA.
Partial mobilization: “The murder of one’s own people”
Romanov also sees the cruelty in the partial mobilization, which affects not only Russia, but also the inhabitants of Crimea. The people had little or no education and were poorly sent to war or equipped with old weapons. She does not understand the attitude of the Russian army towards its soldiers: “This is killing its own people.” Romanowa told of a Russian who, completely unprepared after three days of action, was happy to have been captured by the Ukrainians.
Embassy in Austria
But Romanowa also has a clear message for Austria. She respects Austrian neutrality and also understands why it is important for Austria. “But: Ukraine was also neutral for a while in its history. It gave us no security.” Europe needs to be aware of Russia’s hybrid war against the Western world. This included methods such as Russian propaganda or gas and oil supplies, which would be used as a kind of weapon. “Ukraine is an example of what could happen if you resist Russian intentions in any way.” Romanova said she didn’t hope any other country would experience this.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
