“The decisions of the Western countries on the air defense of Ukraine will be of key importance in this conflict,” said Polish Ambassador to Kyiv Bartosz Cichocki.
Tsikhotsky said on Radio Zet on Wednesday that he was confident that Kyiv would defend itself against an attack by Russian troops expected within a few dozen hours. – I had the opportunity to meet with the defenders of Kyiv, to get acquainted with the city. For a week and a half I have been hearing that Kharkov fell, Bucha fell, Irpen fell, then it turns out that nothing fell, because the Ukrainians are retaking these cities. Hence my conviction,” he stressed.
Russia “is missing a soldier”
– We hear that the Russians do not have enough infantry, that they are even mobilizing the Syrians, mobilizations are underway in the Krasnodar Territory. They simply do not have enough soldiers, – said Chihotsky.
However, the ambassador pointed out that the territory “should be occupied by land”, but this can only be done with air protection. – But the requirement of the Ukrainian authorities to provide: combat aviation platforms, air defense and airspace closure. These decisions of the Western countries will be decisive in this conflict. The lives of thousands of people and the sovereignty of Ukraine will depend on this decision,” Chihotsky emphasized.
Not only the Polish embassy is on duty
He also assured that the embassy in Kyiv is working, has supplies and is safe for now. He also noted that the Polish Embassy is not the only active diplomatic mission in Kyiv. – There is also an ambassador of Turkey, an apostolic nuncio, an ambassador of Belarus, several ambassadors from Arab countries and several from Central Asian countries. This is a service, it is needed when there is a risk,” the ambassador said.
When asked whether there are Poles in Ukraine who need help, the ambassador answered in the affirmative.
Help for the Poles
– We help them to leave Kyiv and deliver food. The most painful cases are messages from distant cities, which are no longer reachable. Having contacted the Ukrainian authorities, the coordinator at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, we are trying to join them in international humanitarian convoys under UN protection. We do not know anything about the stay of Polish citizens in the cities of the east of Ukraine and the north. There are several dozen people in the east and in the center of Ukraine, more people with a Pole’s card, maybe even more Ukrainians of Polish origin, Tsikhotsky said.