The durability of annexation may be inversely proportional to the theatricality of its announcement. If that is the case, the theater of Russian annexation of Ukrainian territory may indeed exist in a quite dynamic state. The theater of annexation, of course, is not about the actual business of wresting control of territory. It is far more about wresting control of the narrative of territorial nationality.
And it is here that while the Russians may have won control of some portions of the Ukrainian territories, the Ukrainians appear to be winning the war for control of the narratives of territorial nationality. Worse, for the Russians, was the casual ineptness of the staging and production of the theatrics of annexation--from sadly farcical production values of the crudely conducted referendums in the affected territories, to the staging of the announcement itself at the space reserved for such events by the Russian core of leadership. In contrast, Mr. Zelenskyy has staged on message--and the message has been to add content to meaning--and to project meaning in ways that undermines whatever Russia was willing to pay for in the lives and property of people other than those directing these events.
It is in this context that the two addresses of 30 September 2022 by the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy responding to the staging of the theater of annexation in the Kremlin, is worth some consideration. The full text of the address follow below.
It is a reminder that to an extent greater than in the warfare of the last century--the narrative battlefront, though less bloody, may in the end prove to be a decisive theater in war--especially where that narrative can be used to leverage and direct actions to project or counter physical projections of power. ç
Note here as well the real target of this narrative battleground--the hearts and minds of NATO and the EU. This is a narrative battle for the money, equipment, and ultimately the invitation to join the Anglo-European West. It is also a narrative that invites the Russian people to rid themselves of the driving force of this adventure:
Our path is path of independence, territorial integrity, integration with civilized world, path of Russia is defeat and shame – address of President of Ukraine
30 September 2022 - 21:43
Dear Ukrainians!
The enemy started this day with a deliberate and absolutely premeditated murder of Ukrainians in Zaporizhzhia. A missile attack on a civilian convoy of cars.
As of now, 30 dead are reported. Almost a hundred wounded and traumatized.
The Russian military knew where their missiles would hit. Non-humans did it. From the first to the last. From the one who gave this order and to everyone who executed this order. They will answer. For sure. Before the law and before people. People!
That is why we are confident of our victory. That is why we took the initiative in the war. That is why we're getting tangible results on the battlefield right now... and that's very important. Congratulations to the heroes!
As we remain human and gain support from people – from all the people of the world. From everyone who feels pain when they learn about the deliberate killing of innocent people.
Another farce took place in Moscow today. Something was celebrated there. They were chanting something there. They sang in the square. They were talking about Zaporizhzhia... When they themselves arranged such a thing in Zaporizhzhia. They are non-humans. Eternal memory to all those killed in Russian terrorist attacks!
Today, Ukraine made decisions to defend itself. All of them will be implemented. Decisions of the National Security and Defense Council and the Supreme Commander-in-Chief Headquarters.
I already reported in detail this afternoon about our request for an accelerated accession to join NATO. And about the obvious readiness of Ukraine for negotiations with the Russian Federation – but with another President of Russia, who will understand what is happening.
Now, I want to add something about the decision of the National Security and Defense Council regarding sanctions against Russian individuals and legal entities. There is a really long list, quite famous names.
However, we are not focused on volume, but on actually dismantling Russian influence and at the same time influencing the state of affairs in the Russian Federation itself.
Therefore, restrictions are introduced against several thousand individuals and entities. Sanctions of Ukraine and our partners are synchronized. New sanctions are being introduced against key persons and significant Russian enterprises.
Of course, sanctions will also be applied to those citizens of other countries who took part in the Russian farce on the occupied territory of our country.
Pseudo-referendums are elements of aggression against a sovereign state, and anyone involved in organizing or conducting this farce will be held accountable.
Today, I spoke with the Prime Ministers of Japan and Denmark. Of course, they condemned the new Russian steps towards escalation. Thanks to them for their support!
Thanks also to all the leaders of the partner states, to all the political and public figures of the world, who have already quite promptly spoken out in defense of Ukraine and international law!
I personally thank President Biden, Congress, our friends in Europe and everyone who is already strengthening sanctions against Russia and is already taking powerful steps to increase defense and financial support for Ukraine!
We must liberate our entire land, and this will be the best proof that international law and human values cannot be broken by any terrorist state, even one as insolent as Russia.
We have substantial results in the east of our country. There is already enough public information about this. Everyone has heard what is happening in Lyman, Donetsk region. These are steps that mean a lot to us.
And I am thankful to all our fighters for implementing this element of our defense plan! It is very important.
Today, I especially want to recognize the fighters of the 10th separate mountain assault brigade and the 54th separate mechanized brigade for their constant bravery and heroism in the Siversky and Bakhmut areas. And also our servicemen of the 214th separate rifle battalion, the Special Operations Forces and the 103rd separate ground defense brigade for the liberation of Yampil.
I am also thankful to our intelligence units – Defense Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense, as well as the Security Service of Ukraine.
The path of our country is difficult. The path is clear. This is the path of independence, territorial integrity, integration with the civilized world and social development. The path of our enemy is also completely clear – defeat, shame and condemnation.
And one more. Every year on the last day of September, Ukraine celebrates Adoption Day. This, in my opinion, is an important day.
It is a day of special respect for those whose hearts are big enough to give family warmth to children left without parental care.
Today, I thank all such Ukrainian men and women! I dream that we will come to such a result, when every child of Ukraine will feel family warmth, no matter what the circumstances of life are.
Eternal glory to our beautiful people! Eternal glory to everyone who fights for Ukraine! We work for one thing – victory!
Glory to Ukraine!
___________
During this week more Ukrainian flags appeared in Donbas, there will be even more – address of President of Ukraine
1 October 2022 - 21:28
Dear Ukrainians!
Dear all our defenders!
Another week of our war for our independence comes to an end.
The week that the enemy really wanted to make especially hard for us, but he made it really hard, but for himself. For Russia itself.
Today, even more voices in the world have joined in condemning the pseudo-referendums and Russia's attempt to annex our territory – the territory of Ukraine.
I am grateful for every such voice.
As a result, we already have dozens of statements that clearly support Ukraine and international law and condemn Russia for this new aggressive step.
I would like to especially note the statement of UN Secretary General António Guterres.
He bluntly said that Russia violates the goals and principles of the UN, the UN Charter and that the pseudo-referendums and attempted annexation will have no legal force.
When such words are heard at the highest level in the UN, everyone in the world understands everything.
And Russia has no such veto right that can stop or cancel this understanding of the world.
Russia is losing the fight for the international community. The world will not allow a return to the times of colonial conquests, criminal annexations and total arbitrariness instead of international law.
And the main thing... The main thing is our resistance with you, our protection with you, our movement with you towards the liberation of the entire Ukrainian territory.
It is our movement that puts everything in its place.
Russia has staged a farce in Donbas. An absolute farce, which it wanted to present as an alleged referendum.
They depicted something there, drove machine gunners around the houses, carried pieces of paper, the propagandists filmed all this in the part of Donbas they controlled.
And now a Ukrainian flag is there.
During this week, there were more Ukrainian flags in Donbas. It will be even more in a week.
What then is a pseudo-referendum? Are there two Donetsk regions? Two villages of Yampil, Donetsk region? Are there two villages of Torske?
The Ukrainian movement will continue.
The Ukrainian flag is already in Lyman, Donetsk region. Fighting is still going on there. But there is no trace of any pseudo-referendum there.
It is logical for Ukraine. And for the enemy, there will be more and more such "mismatches."
By the way, they have already started biting each other there: they are looking for the culprits, accusing some generals of failures...
This is the first bell that should be heard at all levels of the Russian government.
Until you all solve the problem with the one who started it all, who started this senseless for Russia war against Ukraine, you will be killed one by one, making scapegoats, so as not to admit that this war is a historical mistake for Russia.
Ukraine will return its own. Both in the east and in the south. And what they tried to annex now, and Crimea, which has been called annexed since 2014.
Our flag will be everywhere.
There will be punishment for those who committed this crime of aggression against our independent state.
On October 1, 76 years ago, the Nuremberg Tribunal ended its work.
In many ways, it was this process that laid the foundations of the modern world – the legal foundations of justice. Everything that ruscism is trying to destroy.
Therefore, another tribunal will inevitably take place, which will put an end to the careers of all those responsible for this Russian "special operation" against the international system, which began in 2014 and became full-scale on February 24, and will end thanks to the heroism of our people.
Today, we still do not know on which day it will happen. But we know that the day of our victory will come. It will definitely be. And after it the day of judgment for the ruscists will be. It will definitely be.
I thank everyone who brings this time closer. Who is approaching it daily.
Thanks to everyone who fights and works for our victory! Thanks to everyone who helps!
Thank you to President Biden and the US Congress for providing more than $12 billion in supplemental support. It will definitely strengthen our common freedom.
Glory to the invincible people of Ukraine!
Glory to our soldiers!
Glory to Ukraine!
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