In the program "Evening with Vladimir Solovyov" on the TV channel "Russia 1", the executive director of the media group "Russia Today" Kirill Vyshinsky, who was once accused of treason in Ukraine, tried to explain why Ukraine, which he accuses of killing prisoners of war in Yelenovka, could this will be needed:

“I have long had the impression that some positive emotional incentives have been exhausted to maintain the atmosphere of mobilization in Ukraine. If before that - “now we will start a counterattack, by winter we will definitely end the war, we will carry out the “three Ds” on the territory of Russia, that is, de-Russification, demilitarization, we will take away nuclear weapons from Russia, and in the end we will decentralize there, that is, we will divide Russia”, and it was such a trending story in the media, all experts, ideologists were talking about this…

But it seems that this thing has not been working, according to my estimates, for more than a month, because in early July, the mission of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights issued a monitoring report on the situation in Ukraine and there reported that more than 1,000 people in Ukraine were subjected to repression for cooperation, for Russophile sentiments, for cooperation with the occupying troops, moreover <…> repressions against them, procedural issues related to detention, contradicted human rights, <…> and in 12 cases we generally recorded the facts of kidnapping. <…>

In any case, this is an element of creating an atmosphere of fear. Well, Yelenovka is a classic story, such a clear recipe ... There was such an organization in the structure of the OUN-UPA - the security service. These are the people who practiced terrorist methods against the population who collaborated with the Soviet government in the 40s in Western Ukraine. <...> In the OUN they called them “angels with strangleholds”, they burned those who were considered accomplices of the enemy, that is, those who came out of the forest, those who wondered whether it was worth continuing this senseless struggle. They burned these people, strangled them, they didn’t waste bullets at all. That was the point: creating an atmosphere of fear. They found out that the man left the forest under an amnesty - he was found strangled. So think about whether you should leave the forest.

And this story with Yelenovka is classic: it doesn’t matter, these people said or didn’t say, the important thing is that they were in captivity, they laid down their arms. Now think about what fate awaits everyone else if these were covered like this.

Vyshinsky's speech is false at every step. The assertion that Ukrainian propaganda came up with slogans of de-Russification and division of Russia is an obvious fantasy. Apparently, he was inspired by a post on Facebook by NSDC Secretary Alexei Danilov, and not a month ago, but quite recent, dated July 28. There he really writes about "the process of the final destruction of the post-Soviet space and the decolonization of the Russian quasi-federation", including "the de-Russification and denuclearization of Erefia." But, in his opinion, this internal process has already been launched as a result of the Russian attack on Ukraine, “a start has been given to centrifugal movements for the national republics and other peoples that are temporarily part of the Russian Federation; Tatarstan, Ichkeria, Sakha, the peoples of Siberia, the Urals, the Far East and many others are embarking on the path of realizing their colonial status, awakening national self-consciousness and readiness to fight for their independent existence. The opinion is controversial, but in any case, Danilov is far from saying that Ukraine can dismember and de-Russify Russia.

The July 5 report by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet does indeed refer to some 1,000 arrests of Ukrainians for supporting Russian armed forces and armed groups affiliated with them; he said “there are fears that the procedure for arrests might not comply with Ukraine’s international obligations in the field of human rights.” There is not a word about any repressions for “Russophile sentiments”. Vyshinsky prefers to ignore the fact that much of the report is devoted to human rights violations by the Russian armed forces, including hundreds of killings in situations not related to active hostilities.

Finally, the version that the Armed Forces of Ukraine killed the Azov fighters captured in Mariupol so that the Ukrainians were afraid to surrender does not fit well with the circumstances under which the defenders of Mariupol were captured. Here is what Ukrayinska Pravda wrote on May 17:

“President Volodymyr Zelensky said that thanks to the military and the negotiating group of the ICRC and the UN, Ukraine is trying to save the military from Azovstal. 221 soldiers were taken to the occupied territory for further exchange, 53 seriously wounded were taken to a hospital on the territory of CADO.

"Difficult day. But this day, like all the others, is aimed at protecting our country and our people. Thanks to the actions of the Ukrainian military - the Armed Forces of Ukraine, intelligence, as well as the negotiating group, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the UN. hope that we can save the lives of our children.

I want to emphasize that Ukraine needs Ukrainian heroes alive. This is our principle. I think that every adequate person will understand these words.”

And on May 21, Zelensky said :

“The guys from the military received a signal that they have every right to go out and save their lives. The military command handed over all this to everyone blocked at Azovstal ...

Then everything depends on what the UN, the Red Cross, the Russian Federation took upon themselves, that they (the fighters) will all be safe and will expect this or that format of exchange.

Today, I think this: the process that is being led by intelligence today will end - the removal, withdrawal (of the defenders) and preparations for dialogue, for exchange, and the like ... We will take them home. This is what we have to do with partners who have taken responsibility.”

The death of prisoners whose surrender was negotiated by the Ukrainian authorities is an obvious blow to the reputation of the state and President Zelensky, so Vyshinsky attributes to the Ukrainian leadership not just a war crime, but also a suicidal step.