In this file a photo from June (Ovsyannikova Yulia / Ukrinform / Future Publishing / Getty Images)
A Ukrainian lawmaker said on Friday that Russia’s brutality during its invasion was proof that it could not be trusted to maintain future peace, and described its actions as “genocide”.
Kira Rudik, a member of Ukraine’s parliament, told CNN in an interview with Kyiv that fellow lawmakers were heartbroken by Thursday’s news of evacuation corridors in the besieged city of Mariupol – where estimates of tens of thousands of civilians have been caught – failing. to stay.
“We had at least five buses with women and children ready to go, and we couldn’t get them out because the Russians didn’t stop firing. We were unable to obtain a ceasefire from them, although they had promised to do so in advance, “Rudick said. “So, can you imagine how these women and children sitting there on the buses felt for, I don’t know, a few hours waiting to see if their lives would be spared or not. And they were not. They had to go back. “
Russian atrocities have shown Ukrainians that the entire nation must be protected at all costs, she said, noting the killing of civilians found in cities north of Kyiv following the withdrawal of Russian forces.
“We know what to expect if we fail. I was in Bucha. I know what they will do to us. And I don’t want that to happen to me, to any of the people I love. That is why we are fighting. We will fight for every inch to the end. “
Rudick said he had faith in the international community to try to help put pressure on Russia to move forward, but called on the countries to take “half” action – condemning the invasion but still trading with Russia.
Referring to the annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014, she added: “I understand that it takes time for the world to adapt to the truth that we in Ukraine have known for eight years. You can’t trust Russia. “
Rudick told CNN that he did not believe in the agreements or negotiations because of Russian aggression, which is tantamount to Putin’s actions with Nazi Germany during World War II.
“That is why we are explaining to the world that what is happening in Ukraine is called genocide. That is why we are explaining to the world that you cannot make a peace agreement with Russia, because in comparison it is like entering into a peace agreement with Hitler and saying, “Oh, we will talk to him and he will probably spare some lives. the Jews, “she said.
Further evacuations in Mariupol: The shelling near the extraction point prevented people from being evacuated on Thursday, said Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk.
Pavlo Kirilenko, the regional military administrator in Donetsk, said 79 residents of the besieged city of Mariupol had been safely evacuated to Zaproizhia on Thursday.
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