Russian ruler Vladimir Putin will risk everything and will go to the end to seize all Ukraine, which is why the country needs to defend itself against destruction, said Ukrainian filmmaker, screenwriter, soldier, and former political prisoner Oleh Sentsov, according to UNIAN.
Oleh Sentsov was born in Simferopol, which is now occupied by Russia. After Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, he was arrested by Russian authorities on charges of terrorism. In 2015, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison after a trial widely criticized for lacking due process. During his imprisonment, Sentsov gained international attention for his hunger strike in 2018, demanding the release of Ukrainian political prisoners in Russia.
Following his release in September 2019, he returned to Ukraine and continued his activism. Amid the war with Russia, Sentsov joined the Ukrainian military’s territorial defense forces in 2022 and has actively called for international support against Russian aggression.
“Putin has put everything on the line. It is the last chapter of his political biography and he will go to the end. We must be ready to defend ourselves to the end; otherwise, we will lose,” said the Ukrainian director.
According to Sentsov, it is essential to understand that Russia wants to annihilate Ukraine as a nation and as a state.
“Putin has set this goal, and he is indifferent to everyone. He has the human resources, military resources, a pariah-state partner, and money, while sanctions have not destroyed Russia’s ‘savings cube,'” claimed Sentsov.
The war could last for a long time, the director believes. He emphasized that Putin is unwilling to negotiate with Ukraine:
“Putin will not go to any negotiations on the terms Ukraine would like to see. His proposal is simple – surrender,” says former political prisoner.
Sentsov stated that there will be no victory for him without the liberation of Crimea, even if active combat ends.
“This war began with the occupation of Crimea and will only end with the de-occupation of Crimea. So when I say that the war could last ten years, I also mean the de-occupation of Crimea, when all our territories are liberated, and Russia de facto loses. Only then will it be a victory,” the director explained.
Sentsov noted that the war can be characterized by one word – injustice. According to him, this applies not only to mobilization, where some fight while others find ways to evade it.
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