PUTRAJAYA: The Ukrainian envoy in Malaysia has condemned Russia's decision to recognise the "independence" of "quasi-entities" it had created in the temporarily occupied territories in eastern Ukraine.
Ukrainian ambassador to Malaysia Olexander Nechytaylo slammed Russia's move into the so-called "Luhansk People's Republic" and "Donetsk People's Republic".
"The world and the United Nations secretary-general António Guterres are very clear on this.
"Russia has blatantly defied the fundamental norms and principles of international law and the UN Charter by violating the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.
"The Russian troops in Ukraine are not 'peacekeepers', they are occupiers.
"Each member of the international community must take a stand. It is no longer about Ukraine or Russia. There are only two sides now: the international law and the lawlessness," he told the New Straits Times.
Nechytaylo's comments came hours after the Ukrainian government urged its citizens to leave Russia and slapped sanctions on hundreds of Russians as war fears rise.
In an advisory note issued today, Ukraine's foreign ministry recommended that nationals refrained from any trips to Russia and said those who were already there should depart immediately.
The warning came as Ukraine's parliament approved imposing sanctions on 351 Russians, including lawmakers who supported President Vladimir Putin's move to recognise eastern Ukraine's self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics as independent and deploy troops to the breakaway regions.
Nechytaylo had earlier stressed that Ukraine was not prepared to let others dictate on its sovereign choices.
He said while they wanted to live and build their future peacefully, they would not let anyone make choices for them.
"Nobody will impose their values and way of life on us. Make no mistake, we are on our land and we will never stop defending it," said Nechytaylo, responding to allegations that the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) was pushing Ukraine into conflict with neighbouring Russia.
With tensions rising due to the Russian military build-up along the border with Ukraine, it has triggered fears of a full-blown war in Europe as possibly the largest military conflict since World War II.
Despite this, Nechytaylo said he had been receiving a deluge of good wishes, sympathetic support and solidarity for his country from Malaysians of all walks of life.
"I am overwhelmed by the numerous messages, emails and telephone calls expressing concern, hope for peace, encouraging Ukraine to be strong and to stand its ground.
"Ukrainians are generally very friendly, open and hardworking people," he said.
Nechytaylo added that the Russian aggression against Ukraine begun in 2014 with the illegal annexation of Crimea and partial occupation of the Donbas region.
Since then, he said, his country had to continuously defend itself from hybrid threats, with the most recent being cyber-attacks on some Ukrainian financial institutions and the Defence Ministry.
It was the largest assault of its kind in the country's history, taking place on Feb 15.
Nechytaylo pointed out that Ukraine's Digital Transformation Ministry found that vectors of attacks were organised from different countries.
"So far, there is no sign of withdrawal of more than 130,000 Russian troops deployed recently in close proximity with the border with Ukraine.
"In fact, the ongoing build-up continues and now includes the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, paralysing commercial shipping and posing a grave threat to the maritime safety.
"Ukraine remains fully committed to the diplomatic solution and de-escalation based on the international law, respect of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity in the internationally recognised borders."