World must understand that war with Russia is matter of international law - publicist Riabchuk

He shared his opinions with Espreso TV.

"Unfortunately, over the previous decades, most Ukrainians have internalized, that is, appropriated, assimilated the Russian view of history and of themselves. This is a humiliating view, so there is a great sense of self-deprecation, and we have seen this for many years, but the distinction is necessary. I think that the war is largely a war for and about identity, really on the Russian side. They simply cannot live, the Russian imperial identity cannot function without Ukraine," the journalist said.

According to Riabchuk, Ukraine is a key component of Russian 'imperialism,' and without it, this empire will simply disintegrate, creating a huge 'black hole.'

"They have a chance to create a normal national identity, but it is a political decision, a painful process, and they are not ready yet. They have to suffer a very serious defeat in order to somehow rethink their history and identity completely. So far, it is a war for identity, but it is a kind of a trap for us, because the world, unfortunately, does not understand what the Russians are fighting for, they think it is some kind of a threat to NATO or territory. I think it's important for us to explain, at least in the international arena, that this is primarily a matter of principle, international agreements, treaties, borders, international law - this is the main thing. This is the easiest to explain to the whole world, including the Global South, which does not want to hear or understand us at all, and traditionally looks to Moscow. And international law reaches them, because they also have borders that are vulnerable, they also have postcolonial issues, and here, of course, we have a chance," the writer concluded.

• Dmytro Lubinets, the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights, said that the forced passportization of Ukrainian children in the temporarily occupied territories is becoming more and more threatening.