In response to the ongoing invasion of Ukraine, and the ever growing list of war crimes and atrocities by Russia in Ukraine and the occupied territories; the government of Ireland should show ongoing and growing support for Ukraine's Government, military and citizens; Yury Anatoliyevich Filatov, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Ireland, and all the Embassies Russian support staff, must be expelled from Ireland by Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin DFA, without delay.  Micheál Martin's response has been inadequate and weak; he needs to send a strong message to Russia that Ireland will not be used for espionage or disinformation and that Ireland stands against all war crimes.  In addition Yuri Filatov has threatened Ireland on a number of occasions most recently when the tragic death of Finbar Cafferkey, who died while fighting in Ukraine.  Yuri Filatov threatened that after comments made by Micheál Martin were to encourage Irish people to fight with the Uranian military that Ireland would Ireland would be a direct participant in the conflict with all the ensuing consequences.  Threats like these against Ireland its people from Russian political representatives can not and should not be tolerated.

Russia has threatened Ireland with inhalation by using a super bombs off the coast of Ireland; the Russian Ambassador joked about this while Russia continues to threaten its neighbours and other world powers. Ireland has to take a stand against disinformation, lies and war crimes, and to stand with and in support of our allies.  How much more are we expected to take of these threats before action is taken by our political leaders.

The Russian Embassy in Dublin is at the centre of gathering and disseminating information, communications and intelligence in Europe. This includes the Russian invasion of Ukraine and spying on our European allies and neighbours. Information that is gathered is then shared through operatives in Europe and is communicated to Moscow through Dublin. Ref: Irish Times, Irish Journal, The Times (UK) DublinLive. 

As Ukraine prepares its next offensive, it is imperative that Ireland stop the spying and espionage that is taking place and communications facilitated by and through Ireland.  It is time Ireland removed these spies, as many other EU countries have already done.  Ireland needs to decide between trade and Ukrainian lives and territory.

The Russian Embassy is expanding its infrastructure at the Embassy site. The architectural work is all cloak and dagger stuff, with Irish companies resurrected from the dead, by a firm which works for the Russian Government. Putin's hand is right at the heart of Dublin and it reaches from there to Ukraine.

While all other embassies in Ireland employ local support staff, Russia has flown 30+ people in from the mother land, these staff need expelling with the Ambassador to ensure all inelegance gathering ceases.

In addition, Russia has committed war crimes against Ukraine, and even as Putin is put on an international arrest list his military continue to put the world at risk by bombing, taking over and militarising nuclear power plants, threatening Nuclear strikes. Putin is constantly threatening the world with nuclear military action and expanding the war in Ukraine and Baltic states.  It has broken cease fires by bombing and mining humanitarian safe corridors. Russia has targeted civilians, hospitals, schools, cultural centres and essential utilities such as water, electricity and gas.

Ukrainian citizens are dying because of Russia's actions - a war crime.  The Russian Ambassador to Ireland has not spoken out to condemn the actions of Putin rather to condone and lie about, what have become daily war crimes in Ukraine.

The Russian invasion will destroy the lives of 44 million Ukrainian citizens who live in a democracy and have democratic freedom that they have voted for and fought hard for and won.

The fate of Ukraine, as a country on the eastern edge of Europe, extends far beyond its borders. Its fate has huge implications for the rest of Europe’s security, peace, trade and citizens welfare, along with the health of the global economy and the protection and restoration of global nature to protect the planet from climate change.

Ukraine is a peace loving country which wants to do its best for its citizens and which has had to defend itself from Russia since the fall of the USSR. The country should be free from threat, invasion or occupation to grow and develop in its own way within international laws, and as part of the European Union, NATO and any other group its people vote for and they want to join.

Ireland can and should add to the measures that we have already agreed to support as part of the EU. By expelling the Russian Ambassador and his staff until the Russian military have withdrawn from Ukraine as a whole and have agreed to never wage war again.

Ukraine does not want this war, nor do informed Russians, who are demonstrating against the invasion under the threat of being charged with treason, and under the threat of death if imprisoned.

When I visited Odessa in Southern Ukraine in 1998 I found the city full of beautiful architecture, warm soft yellow beaches and a huge blue sky, reflecting the colours of the Ukraine flag. Most of all it was the people who impressed me, warm, welcoming and proud of what they had achieved since breaking away from being a satellite state of the USSR.

Join me by speaking out and taking action to protect Ukraine as a country and Ukrainians across the globe by removing the intelligence gathering and dissemination of information through Ireland.

ps://www.rte.ie/news/primetime/2022/0310/185699-russian-embassy-orwell-road-irish-government/​

https://www.thesun.ie/news/9642271/russia-ireland-threat-putin-worry-army-losing/​

https://www.dublinlive.ie/news/dublin-news/russia-spies-rathgar-vladimirputin-secret-19824501​

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/behind-the-iron-curtain-of-the-russian-embassy-in-dublin-f999sjfcr​

https://www.rte.ie/news/2023/0429/1379827-russia-ukraine-ireland/