Russia’s invasion of Ukraine “will one day be written into textbooks as one of the darkest stains on Russian history,” internationally acclaimed Russian novelist Ludmila Ulitskaya told Kyodo News in a recent written interview.

The 79-year-old contemporary writer, who had expressed to Russian media in late February that her country’s actions brought her “pain, fear and shame,” also called the military aggression “a crime being committed in the name of the Russian people against our will.”

“One man’s madness and his loyal followers control the fate of the country,” Ulitskaya said, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

She added that she believes Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine was motivated by his successful experience unilaterally annexing Crimea from the country in 2014.

Source: Russian author calls Ukraine invasion “stain” on country’s history