‘Welcome to Hell’ ...sign of defiance as Ukraine put on a full war-footing
UKRAINIANS sent a chilling warning to Russian troops yesterday, as the country was put on a full war-footing.
As fears of an invasion continue to mount, defiant people in Kiev posted a banner saying “Welcome to Hell” outside the heavily fortified Russian embassy.
The poster was a stark warning to Moscow of what troops will find if they dare enter the capital.
Meanwhile, in a day of dramatic developments:
● Ukraine conscripted up to 200,000 reservists, some of them aged just 18;
● It declared a nationwide state of emergency;
● About three million Ukraine citizens were told to leave Russia immediately and return home;
● A huge cyber attack knocked out key Ukraine government websites.
● Russia ordered 45,000 body bags to be taken to the front line.
● Moscow took down its embassy’s flag in Kiev and pulled out key diplomatic staff.
● Shelling continued in disputed republics, with at least one dead.
As the hell banner was posted outside the Russian embassy, a Ukrainian MP took the fiery message to his parliament. Oleksiy Goncharenko told Vladimir Putin’s forces: “You won’t leave from here, we promise you this. Welcome to Hell. We can say, you will die here. Die like lousy dogs if you enter our country.
“And your generals throwing you to this meat grinder will run away first. So drop your weapons and go back home to your wives and kids.”
Mr Goncharenko added: “You have nothing to do here. It’s not your land.And it won’t ever be.”
Anti-Russian sentiment in Kiev has soared in the past 24 hours.
Flying
Six identical black crosses, all bearing the same words, “Russian Occupant”, were placed outside the embassy. One was also adorned with “Welcome to Hell”.
The Russian flag was flying above the building at 9.30am yesterday.
But when we drove past 20 minutes later, it had already been taken down as the embassy emptied and its diplomats were ordered to flee back to Moscow.
Ukraine’s government emailed reservists – some of them waiters, teachers and engineers – and ordered them to go immediately to military bases.
A Ukraine army spokesman said: “Reservists from 18 to 60 years old were subject to the call. These will be both officers and non-commissioned officers. The maximum service will be one year. Reservists of
the operational reserve of the first stage will serve in those military units and in the specialty in which they served before.”
Minutes later, another message was sent to Ukraine nationals in Russia by the nation’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
A spokesman said: “In connection with the intensification of Russian aggression against Ukraine, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommends that citizens of Ukraine refrain from any trips to the Russian Federation, and those who are in this country, to leave its territory immediately.”
MP Lesia Vasylenko said: “Yes, Ukraine is ordering her nationals out of Russia. Yes, we are preparing for a state of emergency.At least in some regions of Ukraine.”
Up to three million Ukrainians live in Russia and the latest edict could spark a massive exodus and a potential refugee crisis.
Meanwhile, heavy shelling continued in the contested eastern Ukraine republics which lie 500 miles from Kiev. A soldier died and six others have been injured. Ukraine authorities said they had recorded 96 shelling incidents over the last day compared with 84 a day earlier.
They said Russian separatist forces used heavy artillery, mortars and rocket systems.
Army chief Roman Dudin said: “We have seen active manoeuvring and movement of Russian troops along our borders.
“The military presence is gradually increasing, there are no elements of withdrawing troops from the state border of Ukraine after the so-called exercises.”
Mr Dudin said the Russian army had bought 45,000 special bags to transport bodies.