Vladimir Zhirinovsky, Russian Politician Who Predicted Date Of Ukraine Invasion, Dies

Vladimir Zhirinovsky, the far-right Russian politician who predicted the date of the invasion of Ukraine, has died.

He died after a long and serious illness, the speaker of parliament announced today (Wednesday 6 April), as per Reuters.

The 75-year-old said in December that 2022 would be the year that Russia would 'become great again'.

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"At 4am on February 22, you will feel [our new policy]," he said. "I would like 2022 to be a peaceful year.

"But I love the truth, for 70 years I have been telling the truth. It will not be peaceful.

"It will be a year when Russia becomes great again."

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced his 'special military operation' in Ukraine on 24 February.

The politician was known for his provocative stunts and statements that grabbed headlines for more than three decades.

He threatened to launch nuclear weapons on numerous occasions and mooted seizing Alaska from the US.

He had been admitted to hospital earlier this year after contracting Covid-19, according to Russian media.

While Zhirinovsky has now passed, the war he predicted rages on, with Russian troops concentrating their efforts in the east of Ukraine.

The US, UK and EU are set to impose new punishing sanctions targeting Russia, including a ban on all new investment in the country, after evidence of torture and killings emerged in recent days from a town outside Kyiv.

The Associated Press has seen dozens of dead bodies around the town of Bucha, while Ukrainian officials said the bodies of at least 410 civilians have been found in towns around the Ukrainian capital city that were recaptured from Russian forces.

Videos and images of bodies have unleashed a wave of indignation among western allies, who have drawn up new sanctions as a response.

After several European countries announced the expulsion of Russian diplomats, the European Commission proposed a fifth package of sanctions, including a ban on coal imports.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged to the United Nations Security Council to 'act immediately'.

Questioning its purpose if it did not take decisive action in the face of war crimes, he said on Tuesday: "The UN can be simply closed. Are you ready to close the UN?

"If your answer is no, you need to act immediately."

If you would like to donate to the Red Cross Emergency Appeal, which will help provide food, medicines and basic medical supplies, shelter and water to those in Ukraine, click here for more information 

Topics: World News, Russia, Politics

Jake Massey

Jake Massey is a journalist at LADbible. He graduated from Newcastle University, where he learnt a bit about media and a lot about living without heating. After spending a few years in Australia and New Zealand, Jake secured a role at an obscure radio station in Norwich, inadvertently becoming a real-life Alan Partridge in the process. From there, Jake became a reporter at the Eastern Daily Press. Jake enjoys playing football, listening to music and writing about himself in the third person.

@jakesmassey