Photos: Lapshin Compares the Artsakh War to Events in Ukraine

Last night, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a live broadcast: “Today we are left alone, everyone is afraid…” He said this absolutely sincerely, but he was mistaken about one thing. Ukraine did not remain alone this night, but many years ago, when they plundered and devastated (and continue to do so) the once-powerful economy of the former USSR, when governments and "Maidans" were replaced, and people fled to Europe in search of better lives.

This was stated by blogger Alexander Lapshin on his Facebook page, along with photos taken in Ukraine after the 44-day war.

“And yet, I regret (I speak sincerely as a person whose entire extended family is from the Lviv region and whose ancestors lived there for more than 200 years). The national idea, corruption, and chaos have always failed in choosing friends and allies. Literally before my eyes, my beloved Ukraine, 30 years after the collapse of the USSR, turned into a third-world country; this is my great sorrow and tragedy.

Three months ago, all Ukrainian cities were painted with Azerbaijani flags in congratulation on the victory in Nagorno-Karabakh. Azerbaijan is a country far from democracy, long suffocated by corruption (ranked 168th in the world for freedom index), where the Aliyevs' dynasty has plundered one of the wealthiest countries for almost 30 years. As a result, tens of thousands of Armenians perished due to the bloody 44-day war in Artsakh, and tens of thousands became refugees. Moreover, there has been an increase in supplies to Azerbaijan, including in the form of Ukrainian weapons. Yes, not only has Ukraine supplied weapons but also Pakistan, Israel, Turkey, and Belarus.

I understand that you will tell me this is politics, that this involves a lot of money, and that Azerbaijan simply “paid” for this whole disgraceful advertising of victory on the streets of Ukrainian cities. I agree with you that the ordinary Ukrainian, frankly, doesn’t care about either Karabakh or Azerbaijan. People are surviving on a monthly pension of $100. All of this is true. But Azerbaijan has not found such active support in any other country except for Turkey. Whether it has been ‘paid’ or not is irrelevant. Even Lukashenko, ‘cuddling’ under Aliyev, did not allow himself such a thing, trying at least for appearance’s sake to create an appearance of neutrality.

Here we are today. A day before the war began, on February 22, 2022, Ukraine’s yesterday’s ‘faithful’ friend Ilham Heydarovich Aliyev rushed to the Kremlin to sign an agreement on mutual support and cooperation. Azerbaijan, which is largely indebted to Ukraine for its territorial victory over Armenia, today remains silent, as it doesn’t give a damn about Ukraine. “Did you send weapons for the ‘Karabakh victory’, wave flags? You did well,” says Ilham Heydarovich, “now wrap yourself in toilet paper and go down, you know where.” This is what he conveys.

And where is Turkey’s same ‘devoted’ friend with his Bayraktars? Yes, in the same place where Azerbaijan is; they will not interfere with Ukraine and will not support it in absolutely anything.

What is happening in Ukraine is a great tragedy. This is terrifying, and I refuse to believe it. This should not have happened. I feel pain and fear for my friends who have found themselves in a nightmare under bombs and bullets. And I regret that Ukraine is again left alone, although this was absolutely predictable seeing what has been happening to this beautiful country for decades,” he wrote.