Apologise for nuclear threat
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TAOISEACH Micheal Martin has branded as “sinister” a mock-up clip showing Russia wiping out Ireland with a nuclear weapon” – and said the TV broadcaster behind it should apologise.
The clips were shown by the staterun TV channel Russia-1 and were introduced by Dmitry Kiselyov, a close associate of war-mongering president Vladimir Putin.
In the video, footage showed Ireland and Britain being wiped off the map by a nuclear weapon.
Another clip showed Mr Kiselyov discussing Russia using a nuclear underwater drone to “plunge the British Isles into the depths of the sea”. On his way into Cabinet yesterday the Taoiseach said whoever “instigated” the clip should apologise.
He told the Irish Mirror: “It’s very sinister tactics by the Russian Federation, but I don’t think anyone’s going to be intimidated by it and I think it reflects a mindset that is worrying and not in touch with reality.
“I think there should be an apology forthcoming in relation to that, but the more fundamental point I would think is that Russia should cease hostilities in Ukraine.
“The degree of bombardment and destruction of towns and cities and human carnage that has taken place is absolutely without any justification.
“It’s an immoral war that should end and human corridors should be provided consistently in Mariupol and other locations.”
Meanwhile, Green Party leader Eamon Ryan also condemned the Russian video clips, describing them as “disturbing” and “a disgrace”.
And he hinted that the Russian ambassador in Dublin, Yury Filatov,
could be hauled in over the issue. He said: “It is disturbing, it’s on state television in Russia with the presenter who is said to be close to the [Russian] government.
“In what world could that be seen as appropriate?
“It’s a disgrace and I’m looking forward to hearing what Simon Coveney has to say about it.”
And Fianna Fail MEP South Billy Kelleher joined in the criticism, urging the Government to summon Russia’s ambassador to inform him about “our absolute disgust”. And Minister Michael Mcgrath also voiced his concern, saying: “It was disturbing to see a whole country and indeed our neighbours wiped out in a simulation and broadcast on national TV.”
“It will be for Minister Coveney and the Department of Foreign Affairs to consider what is the most appropriate diplomatic response.
“I think it underlines the nature of what we’re dealing with and the threat that Russia is posing… to see that in such a flippant manner, the number
of people whose lives would be wiped out in an instant is shocking,” Meanwhile, retired army officer and security analyst Senator Tom Clonan described the shocking TV broadcast as “significant on a number of levels”.
He told Newstalk Breakfast: “This tells you the thinking in the Kremlin in terms of how disinhibited they are now about the threat of nuclear retaliation.”
But Sen Clonan reckoned the chances of the Russians going nuclear were remote.
He said: “I know there will be many people who will be very frightened by this, or it may provoke fear and unease, but the chances of this happening are extremely small.”
“This is propaganda.”