Russia’s human rights commissioner acknowledges Ukrainian soldiers’ humanity, sparking backlash

This is reported by Bloknot Russia.

Speaking at a meeting of the State Duma committees, she recounted instances where Ukrainian soldiers shared food with residents of the Kursk region and helped them escape danger.

“We worked with the guys who returned from captivity, bringing Kursk residents back from occupied territories. Ukrainian soldiers took them to Sumy, and from there, they were transferred to Russia through Belarus—they told different stories. They spoke about how Ukrainian servicemen brought them food and shared what little they had. We must not dehumanize them and see only an ‘empire of evil.’ Ukrainians are different. Some of them saved people from the mercenaries they arrived with—those mercenaries have no sense of sacred duty. And as for these Ukrainians, they are Orthodox like us; we must fight for their souls and their spirituality. That is what we are doing,” Moskalkova emphasized.

However, her remarks triggered criticism from some Russian media outlets.

“What is this—are they preparing us for something? Or does the Human Rights Commissioner really have no more pressing topic than the ‘humanity’ of Ukrainian soldiers and the ‘self-dehumanization’ of Russian citizens? What about our citizens murdered in basements in the Kursk region? What about the kidnapped? In general, any discussion of Ukrainians’ moral character can only happen after victory. We will win—then we will decide who is human, who is a Banderite, and who is a mercenary. Until then, they are all the same,” wrote the Telegram channel Verum Regnum (Our Regnum).

Journalist Roman Saponkov also responded sarcastically to Moskalkova’s remarks, questioning whether her statement amounted to glorifying Ukrainian soldiers.

“Is this already ‘Glory to the Armed Forces of Ukraine’ or just ‘betraying at the right moment means foreseeing the future’? Can someone clarify? I’m ready to shift my stance in line with the party’s position,” he commented.

• On January 29, the resistance movement Atesh reported that Russian soldiers were being sent to fight in the Kursk direction as punishment for refusing to extend their contracts.