Sergiy Korsunsky, Ukraine’s ambassador to Japan, dressed like a samurai to warn Russia against invading his country this week.
In a Monday tweet, Korsunsky shared a photo of himself in the full panoply of a Japanese Samurai warrior, complete with a katana at his side. Behind him is the state seal of Ukraine, a blue shield with a golden trident. “We know what we are fighting for. How about Russia?” Korsunsky said, both in English and Japanese.
Korsunsky shared his photo in the traditional Samurai battle dress as more than 100,000 Russian troops have gathered along Ukraine’s borders in a standoff that has lasted for months on end.
On the same day Korsunsky shared his tweet, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a statement sharing Ukrainian intelligence warnings that Russia could begin an invasion within two days. While no Russian invasion materialized by Wednesday and Russia has claimed its troops are beginning to withdraw, the Biden administration remains concerned over Russia’s continued sizeable troop buildup and the potential for an invasion to begin at any time.
Korsunsky continued to showcase his Samurai armor on Monday. When one Twitter user asked where his helmet was in the original picture, he replied with a second photo, this time with the helmet.
Another Twitter user shared a photo of a proposed Samurai helmet design that includes the golden trident emblem of the Ukrainian state sea. “Dear His Excellency the Ambassador Korsunsky I designed helmet for your armor. In Japan, we, ‘Bushi’ dedicate arms to a shrine for praying peace. We pray for safety of you and all Ukrainian.”
“This is unbelievable! Thank you so much! I am deeply moved,” Korsunsky replied.
“It’s a great honor that I receive your reply. Japanese armor is also as an amulet,” the exchange continued. “I hope that each country no need to bow before military and economic power. From Descendant of ‘Bushi (branched out from the Imperial Family).”
Korsunsky replied with a video of a time-lapsed sketch of a Samurai armor set. “Look what I found.”
Korsunsky’s affinity for Japanese culture does not end at his possession of a Samurai armor set. As his official Twitter profile image, Korsunsky has an image of a Samurai child holding a golden trident, done in the anime art style.
