Duda announced an “explosion of international organized crime” after the war in Ukraine: the reaction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Polish President Andrzej Duda believes that the end of Russia’s war against Ukraine could lead to an “explosion of international organized crime” that would spread to Poland, Western Europe and the United States. About this informs Financial Times.
According to Duda, in case of such a development, Kyiv will need “massive support” to guarantee security. He expressed concern about the possible spread of crime beyond the borders of Ukraine, which could affect Poland, Western European countries, and the United States.
The Polish leader drew parallels with the situation in Russia in the 1990s, when there was an increase in violence and banditry among veterans of the war in Afghanistan:
“Just think back to the time when the Soviet Union collapsed, and how much the level of organized crime increased in Western Europe as well as in the United States.”
He emphasized that the return of the Soviet military then “had such an impact on the explosion of organized crime,” adding that the losses from a full-scale war in Ukraine far exceed those during the Afghan war.
“Just imagine a situation where we have thousands of people coming home from the front lines. Those people who are fighting Russia, many of them will have mental problems.” – explained the president of Poland.
At the same time, the spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Heorhii Tyhiy, assured that the Ukrainian military, in particular those who may return with post-traumatic stress disorder, will not pose a threat to European security.
He recalled that after 2014, when hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians already took part in hostilities, there was no significant increase in the level of crime or threats to Poland and Europe:
“Ukrainian soldiers and veterans are not a threat, but a security factor for Ukraine, Poland and the whole of Europe. They are the guarantee of a free and stable European future. We are convinced that the brave Ukrainian men and women who defended their country and the whole world from Russian invaders deserve the highest respect.”
