Kathrine Frich
Britain’s defence secretary has triggered controversy after using striking language about Vladimir Putin during a visit to Kyiv.
His comments came as Russia intensified its attacks on Ukrainian cities, reigniting debate over accountability, international law and the limits of political rhetoric.
The remarks quickly drew reactions online and in Moscow.
Words in Kyiv
UK Defence Secretary John Healey made the comments while visiting Ukraine’s capital on Friday.
Asked by the Kyiv Independent whether he would “kidnap” any world leader, Healey replied that he would “take Putin into custody and hold him to account for war crimes.”
He linked his response to what he described as firsthand experiences in Ukraine.
Healey pointed to “what I saw in Bucha on one of my first visits to Ukraine” and to the abduction of “some of the Ukrainian kids that I met in [the city of] Irpin.”
The comments came after Russia launched fresh missile attacks on Kyiv and other cities.
Reaction and context
The language used by the UK defence secretary was quickly picked up by Russian media and commentators.
Moscow has repeatedly rejected allegations of war crimes and accuses Western countries of escalating the conflict through rhetoric and military support for Kyiv.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously warned that any attempt to seize Russian state assets or leaders would amount to “robbery,” according to state media.
Mass graves discovered in Bucha in 2022 after Russian forces withdrew from the area became one of the most cited examples by Ukraine and its allies of alleged atrocities committed during the invasion.
Support for Ukraine
Healey said the devastation he witnessed underscored the need for continued Western backing of Kyiv.
Pointing to destroyed buildings, he said the scenes showed Putin’s determination “not just to wage a war on Ukraine, but to target civilians, cities, the infrastructure that people absolutely critically depend on in the middle of winter.”
“This is a man who must be stopped. This is a war that must be stopped,” Healey added.
He said Britain’s mission was to support Ukraine “in its fight today and to help work to secure the peace for the moment.”
Sources: Daily Express, Kyiv Independent
