Seek mental help: Ukraine slams Russia over claim of trying to stop wars

Ukraine ambassador to the United Nations, Sergiy Kyslytsya, suggested Russian officials seek mental help, after their controversial tweet about the ongoing invasion, Newsweek reported. 

Holding up a printout of the message at the UN meeting in New York, Kyslytsya said, “Those who posted today, this text—’Foreign Minister Lavrov: The goal of Russia’s special military operation is to stop any war that could take place on Ukrainian territory or that could start from there’—Russian embassy in London, retweeted by the Russian Foreign Ministry”. 

He then added, “Let me remind the Russian diplomats that in London, in case of need of mental help, you can dial NHS line 1-1-1”. 

Also Read | Pentagon warns Americans not to join Ukraine in war against Russia

The ambassador’s comments come after the Russian Foreign Ministry tweeted that Russia’s goal is to prevent any war from breaking out in Ukraine. At the UN, Kyslytsya doubled down on his attack, saying that not just Russian diplomats, but those agreeing with the claim, all need mental assistance. He also questioned how Russia could prevent wars from breaking out in Ukraine while continuing to attack the country. 

After the UN meeting, Kyslytsya shared more information in a Facebook post, saying, “Today more than hundreds of Ukrainian cities and villages, attacked and sieged by the aggressor state are on the verge of a humanitarian disaster: the population does not have an access to drinking water, food, medicine, electricity, heating and other basic necessities”, and added, “The Russian occupiers are killing Ukrainian children. Consciously and cynically. At least 38 children have been already killed since Russia’s full-scale armed aggression against Ukraine. More than 70 kids were seriously wounded”. 

Also Read | List of all companies that pulled out of Russia amid Ukraine crisis

Meanwhile, Russia has constantly denied any show of aggression against Ukraine. Initially, President Vladimir Putin claimed troops were sent in to “denazify” and “demilitarize” the NATO-leaning country, and since then, Russia has shied away from using the terms “war” and “invasion“, despite its actions. 

As per BBC, Russian television outlets refer to the troops’ actions as “a special operation of liberation”. A draconian law has also been passed, which can result in up to 15 years of imprisonment, for spreading what Russia deems to be false news about its military. Russians have also lost access to both Facebook and Twitter as the government tries to control the narrative in Ukraine’s invasion.