UWC Vice President Semenov: ‘We must convey the truth about the root causes of the war’

Middle Easterners and Central Asians are generally supportive of Ukrainians, but Russian influence in the region remains strong, said Yevheniy Semenov, UWC Vice President for Middle East and Central Asia, in an interview with the My Ukrayina (We are Ukraine).

“This region is unique due to its political and historical complexities. I joined the UWC leadership after a decade of active work with the community in the UAE,” Semenov said. 

He continued: “Unfortunately, there has always been a very small Ukrainian presence here. Meanwhile, Russia has been actively promoting its perspective and propaganda since the Soviet era, which affects how the war in Ukraine is perceived by societies in the Middle East and Central Asia.” 

He emphasized that Ukrainian communities abroad, as well as those in Ukraine, need to work on conveying the truth about the root causes of Russia’s war against Ukraine. 

“For instance, there is a prevalent stereotype that NATO is involved in the conflict instead of Ukrainians fighting for their own country. This narrative is actively pushed by Russian propaganda,” he said.

Semenov said that the Ukrainian World Congress was founded by Ukrainian volunteers 58 years ago to strengthen Ukrainian interests globally, and it is now effectively countering Russian propaganda.

“The UWC cooperates with Ukrainian communities in this region to enhance civil society efforts and engage government officials – understanding that not everything happens publicly. This cooperation helps our authorized bodies operate effectively in all necessary directions for Ukraine’s victory,” Semenov stated.