I recently came back from providing essential assistance to emergency responders and labor representatives in the Donbas area of Ukraine. Despite facing daily challenges like power outages, missile attacks, and civilian casualties across various settings, Ukrainians exhibit remarkable resilience. While desiring peace, they refuse to surrender their nation to Russia and endure the harshness of occupation.
During my visit to the Save Ukraine center, I encountered children rescued from the occupied territories, with alarming statistics revealing that one in ten had experienced sexual abuse. More than 20,000 children, likely an underestimated figure, have been reported as abducted by Russia, highlighting a widespread occurrence of child exploitation.
The situation is further complicated by the actions of sanctioned Russian tycoon Roman Abramovich, who is impeding the transfer of £2.5 billion from the Chelsea FC sale to support Ukraine while entangled in a legal battle concerning frozen assets worth billions in Jersey. Notably, Abramovich is receiving support from a member of the Conservative Shadow Cabinet, Lord Wolfson KC, adding controversy to the scenario due to the oligarch’s ties to Putin.
The involvement of Lord Wolfson and former Trump advisor Eric Herschmann in Abramovich’s legal dispute hints at a concerning trend of normalized interactions with Russian oligarchs. Such actions are met with skepticism, particularly considering the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and the increasing efforts to normalize relations with Moscow by populist and far-right politicians across the West.
The failure to address the collaboration between Wolfson and a sanctioned oligarch raises significant concerns about the Conservative Party’s stance under Kemi Badenoch’s leadership. It is imperative for democracy that accountability is demanded regarding this contentious matter.
In response, the Labour government must take decisive action by implementing emergency measures to prevent sanctioned oligarchs from exploiting the UK legal system and reallocating the nearly £30 billion in frozen Russian assets in the UK to aid Ukraine. As Ukraine fights for democracy on the front lines, it is crucial for us to show solidarity and support them. Join us in front of Tory Headquarters on Wednesday, January 7th, at 5 pm to stand with Ukraine and voice your support.