STA, 9 March 2022 - The government adopted on Wednesday a decision introducing temporary protection for displaced persons from Ukraine that effectively grants them a temporary residence permit, access to the labour market, accommodation, education, social care and healthcare.

The decision activates the temporary protection of displaced persons act and comes after EU home affairs ministers agreed last week to activate the relevant directive for the first time ever.

The activation speeds up protection granting procedures, as Ukrainian refugees will not be required to ask for international protection on their arrival in Slovenia.

The government determined the categories of persons to whom Slovenia will provide temporary protection, the date of introduction and duration of temporary protection and the rules applicable to these persons after the temporary protection expires.

Temporary protection will be provided to persons displaced from Ukraine on or after 24 February 2022 as a result of the military invasion by the Russian armed forces, which started on that date, the government said in a press release.

These persons include citizens of Ukraine, stateless persons and third-country nationals who are not citizens of Ukraine and who have been entitled to international protection or other equivalent national protection in Ukraine.

Also eligible are family members of these persons, and stateless persons and third-country nationals who are not citizens of Ukraine and have resided in Ukraine based on a valid permanent residence permit and are unable to return to their country of origin in a safe and permanent manner.

The temporary protection will last for one year and can be extended for a maximum of two times for six months.

The government also decided to establish an accommodation centre for the applicants and persons with approved temporary protection in parts of the premises of the Protection and Disaster Relief Administration in Logatec.

?????

Today marks the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Slovenia & Ukraine. We value the 30 years of freedom, independence & friendship. We fully stand with the brave people of #Ukraine & their leadership fighting against Russia's invasion.#StopRussianAgression pic.twitter.com/P4LkZDyHD7

— MFA Slovenia (@MZZRS) March 10, 2022

MPs adopt resolution condemning Russia's attack on Ukraine

STA, 9 March 2022 - The National Assembly endorsed on Wednesday a resolution on the situation in Ukraine that condemns Russia's aggression against Ukraine and Russia's recognition of independence of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The resolution also endorses sanctions against Russia and Belarus, and Ukraine's EU accession prospects.

The resolution, which was submitted to the parliamentary procedure by deputies of all parliamentary groups bar the opposition National Party (SNS), was endorsed by 67 of the 74 deputies present, and none voted against.

It condemns Russia's aggression against Ukraine as "the worst violation of international law" and Russia's recognition of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions in eastern Ukraine as independent republics.

In addition, the resolution expresses solidarity with the Ukrainian people as those with the sole right to decide on their future, supports humanitarian aid and calls for peace efforts.

The National Assembly also supported the international sanctions that have been adopted so far against Russia and Belarus, and supported Ukraine's EU accession prospects and its application for EU membership.

The resolution calls for the adoption of a clear plan that guarantees Ukraine EU membership by 2030, provided that the conditions are met.

The Slovenian government has been urged to continue providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine and to support activities in the international community to launch talks between Ukraine and Russia.

In addition to the senior Slovenian officials, the resolution will also be presented to European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

The adoption of the resolution at the emergency session, which was attended by Ukrainian Ambassador Mykhailo Brodovych, was preceded by a debate and a minute of silence observed for the victims of the Russian aggression against Ukraine.

During the debate, Foreign Minister Anže Logar welcomed the resolution and its goals on behalf of the government.

"It is up to us politicians that this unjust, unjustified war, this brutal aggression of the Russian Federation against independent Ukraine will not disappear from the daily news," he said.

The chair of the Foreign Policy Committee, Monika Gregorčič of the coalition Concretely, said that any relativisation and justification of military aggression against a sovereign and internationally recognised state was inappropriate.

Nik Prebil of the opposition Marjan Šarec List (LMŠ) noted that despite the unity in Slovenian politics shown in the condemnation of the Russian aggression, "there are some who use the state of war for their own political self-promotion".

The coalition New Slovenia (NSi) regretted that the resolution did not receive all 90 votes, as Russia is not threatened by NATO enlargement, but by the "expansion of democracy, freedom and prosperity," as MP Blaž Pavlin put it.

Opposition SAB MP Alenka Bratušek criticised the government of Janez Janša for what she sees as the failure to take care of Slovenian citizens residing in Ukraine, which Logar dismissed, and for "inadmissible mistake of dividing refugees to first- and second-rate ones".

"It seems that the communication of our prime minister related to the Ukrainian tragedy is not really about Ukrainians, but about addressing voters at home and their emotions," she said.

Matjaž Nemec of the opposition Social Democrats (SD) said that this was Russian President Vladimir Putin's war and that sanctions should prevent the Russian leadership and its circle of supporters from continuing to finance the war.

Matej T. Vatovec of the opposition Left said that the war in Ukraine signalled one thing - that militarisation, increase in military and armaments expenditure was not the solution, but the main cause of all problems.

Some Left deputies said that they would not endorse the resolution because of its "one-sidedness", as by doing so Slovenia was publicly and clearly taking one side in the conflict.

The SNS similarly announced that its MPs would abstain from voting, with Dušan Šiško noting that while the party supported humanitarian aid to refugees, Slovenia must remain neutral. "Slovenia should distance itself from this senseless war."

A decision condemning Russia's military attack on Ukraine and the assistance by Belarus was also adopted today by the National Council, the upper chamber of parliament, which also expressed solidarity with the people of Ukraine.

The National Council said after the session that it joined the response of the international community by supporting the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine's internationally recognised borders.

It expressed support for Ukraine's EU accession prospects and called for "an end of aggression with the ambition of all parties involved to work for a peaceful solution to the conflict through diplomatic channels".

STA, 8 March 2022 - The Interior Ministry will propose the government activate an article that will provide immediate temporary protection to Ukrainian refugees by Friday, Minister Aleš Hojs announced on Tuesday.

The ministry is working on a regulation whereby the government would activate the temporary protection of displaced persons act after EU home affairs ministers last week agreed to activate the temporary protection directive for the first time ever.

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 The directive means that refugees from Ukraine will be granted a temporary residence permit in the EU, access to the labour market, accommodation, education, social care and healthcare.

Slovenia already has the relevant act, but the government needs to take a special decision to activate it. The minister hopes it will be activated by Friday at the latest.

The activation will speed up protection granting procedures, Hojs said, adding that Ukrainian refugees would not be required to ask for international protection on their arrival in Slovenia.

Nataša Potočnik, the head of the migrations directorate, told Radio Slovenija that the mechanism would be available to those who were a resident of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, meaning both Ukrainian citizens and other citizens living in the country at that time would be eligible to be processed under the mechanism.

The latter are required to prove they had an international protection status or a residence permit in Ukraine at the time and cannot return to their country of origin.

Those who have already lodged an application for international protection under the regular procedure, which usually takes more time, can opt out of this and choose to be processed under the temporary protection mechanism, she said.

Temporary protection can be granted for one year with the possibility to be renewed twice. While having a temporary protection status, people can apply for international protection, she added.

The ministry provided police data this afternoon showing that 502 Ukrainian nationals had asked for international protection in Slovenia through Monday.

Even more are travelling through Slovenia. "According to the available data, we estimate that several thousand refugees transit through Slovenia per day," the police said. Hojs said earlier that most were headed to West European countries.

The minister announced that an information system would be put in place to register refugees from Ukraine, "so it's clear where and who is accommodated and whether they are still in Slovenia".

There has so far been no agreement on potential relocation of Ukrainian refugees between EU countries as Poland said it would sustain the pressure itself.

"Should the pressure of refugees increase further, Slovenia has made it clear that we are ready to accept a substantial number of refugees," said Hojs.

Slovenia could provide capacities to accommodate between 20,000 and 30,000 refugees and take care of roughly 200,000 in total. However, at the moment accommodation is available for between 1,000 and 2,000, he estimated.

The accommodation centre in Logatec currently accommodates 135 Ukrainian refugees, including 79 children, whereas the rest are women, said Katarina Štrukelj, the head of the government Office for the Support and Integration of Migrants. The ministry is looking for new capacities to accommodate them.

The ministry itself has made available accommodation facilities at the seaside resort of Debeli Rtič with other locations to be inspected in the coming days, including in Murska Sobota in the north-east of the country.

According to Defence Minister Matej Tonin, 2,500 Ukrainian refugees are registered at private accommodations in Slovenia, with their relatives or acquaintances.

The office has launched an open call to obtain information on candidates willing to provide accommodation for refugees from Ukraine. Due to numerous enquiries, the deadline for applications has been extended until Wednesday at noon, the office told the STA.

Health Minister Janez Poklukar said that Slovenia would provide medical care for Ukrainian refugees, and that all healthcare providers had been notified that the refugees are entitled to emergency health services.

Commenting on the integration of Ukrainian children into Slovenia's educational system, Education Minister Simona Kustec said that educational models were in place for this at primary and secondary school levels.

Depending on the flow of refugees, Slovenia will decide whether to take an individual approach in individual environments and schools, or a more systemic approach in the event of a larger refugee wave. Some Ukrainian child refugees are already being introduced into the Slovenian school system, she added.

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STA, 5 March 2022 - Philosopher Slavoj Žižek has assessed that both the Western countries and Russia are responsible for the crisis in Ukraine, as Russian President Vladimir Putin had been preparing the invasion for years and the West had been aware of it. He believes that Putin's policy means return to the Russian Empire.

As he addressed a congress of the opposition Left in Maribor on Saturday, Žižek recalled the period of the Russian Empire, in which the Ukrainian national identity was prohibited.

It is alleged that it was only in the first decade of the Soviet Union that Ukrainians fully developed their national identity, got dictionaries and their own literature. According to Žižek, Putin's policy means a return to the Russian Empire.

"Putin is not only a conservative nationalist, but even worse, because he elevated van Ilyin, a political theologian who advocated a basic version of fascism of his own a hundred years ago, to his national philosopher," he said.

Ilyin is said to imagine democracy as "people voting only to confirm support for our leader", as votes do not legitimise the leader.

"Thus is how democracy has worked in Russia for the past decade, and it is no wonder that Putin has become popular among modern-day populist politicians, especially in the US," Žižek said.

"When Putin talks about denazification, we must remember that this is the same Putin who for years supported Marine Le Pen in France, Lega and Salvini in Italy, Alternative for Germany even Orban in Hungary, who has shown remarkable understanding for Putin."

He noted that Russia today was not returning to the Cold War with a set of clear rules that both sides are supposed to respect, but that something much crazier is happening, as an era of warm peace has begun.

"We are in a period when peace means a constant hybrid war, where armed operations are declared as peaceful humanitarian missions against genocide. How many times have we heard this phrase from the western forces," Žižek said.

He thinks that the West taking a critical look at itself is the only successful way to oppose Putin, as it was the West who had pushed Russia into fascism. He noted the economic proposals from the US that destroyed the Russian economy in the 1990s under Boris Yeltsin and paved the way for Putin.

He agrees with the assessment that Putin is a war criminal, but wonders how this has been noticed only now. "Wasn't he a war criminal when the Russian air force bombed the city of Aleppo in Syria, much more brutally than Kyiv is bombed now," he said.

"Remember that Ukraine is the poorest of all post-Soviet countries," Žižek said, adding that even if they won the war, they would have to accept the bitter truth that the western liberal democracy is in a deep crisis itself.

He wondered what kind of Europe should be saved. "If Europe that does not tolerate non-white refugees and excludes the uncivilised wins, then we do not need Russia to destroy us, we will do it ourselves," he added.

The covers and editorials from leading weeklies of the Left and Right for the work-week ending Friday, 4 March 2022.

Mladina: SDS Abused Ukraine rally

STA, 4 March 2022 - After five rallies in support of Ukraine were organised in Slovenia after Russia attacked its neighbour, there was a sixth such rally on Wednesday that was organised by PM Janez Janša, who was also one of the key-note speakers, Mladina magazine says on Friday, adding that his SDS abused the hardships of Ukrainians for election gain.

After inviting everyone to the rally, Janša realised it was a bit odd that the prime minister, who has the power to express his views or protest in the political arena, would organise a civil society rally.

Janša, who thinks he is both an opposition leader and PM, and a national TV editor and its guest, then did what he knows best - he resorted to cheap political mimicry.

He found what was until then an unknown Ljubljana-Kyiv Culture Society to formally organise his protest, while everything - from the stage and PA system to the moderator - was taken care of by his Democratic Party (SDS).

Together with its coalition partners, the SDS abused the hardships of Ukrainians, from common people to their ambassador to Slovenia, to have an election rally, Mladina says, adding that Slovenia has not witnessed something so base for a while.

Protests against Russia's invasion of Ukraine are held across Europe and across the world, "but nowhere are they organised by prime ministers. Protests are a matter of the civil society. Well, there is one country where only protests organised by authorities are allowed. Its name is Russia."

Demokracija: Putin an alienated madman who cannot win

STA, 3 March 2022 - Commenting on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Demokracija says that it seems that the "madman from the end of the conference table" has raised the stakes and started to play a game which he cannot withdraw from any longer.

After this reference to Russian President Vladimir Putin, the weekly says that "Putin is using Bolshevist methods to try to become the new Russian tzar."

This needs to be obvious, as advisors and guests must feel and be aware of his untouchability, and Putin seems to have already reached the level of a tyrant when his physical contact with other people becomes impossible.

"He is using proper spatial distancing because he is afraid of a Brutus from his own ranks," Demokracija adds under the headline Madman from the End of the Conference Table.

It adds that Putin is not a blessing for Russia, and that he could become a curse, just like all former officials of socialist secret services who climbed to the posts of country leaders.

Thirty years ago, Ukraine deliberately renounced nuclear weapons because it was counting on EU and NATO memberships, but its accession has been blocked mainly by Germany, which made concessions to Putin over the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines.

Demokracija notes that Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša was right when he said that "if the EU does not expand, something else will", and adds that the world is now on the brink of global conflict.

Putin is by no means a great statesman and leader, he is only a "lunatic who is flying high on the wings of the lukewarm warnings from the West."

So far, he has only managed to alienate himself from most of the world and show that the Russian army is not so powerful, as not even an overwhelming number of 5th-generation fighter jets cannot ensure full air supremacy, concludes the commentary.

All our posts in this series are here

STA, 4 March 2022 - The Slovenian Foreign Ministry has strongly condemned "Russia's attack on the nuclear power station in Zaporizhzhia in Ukraine, which poses a threat to health and security in entire Europe". In the statement published on Twitter, the ministry has also urged an end to attacks on Ukraine.

The Ukrainian agency for nuclear safety said on Friday that the Russian forces had seized the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station. A fire broke out before the capture and following the Russian attack, but it has been already extinguished.

The ministry also said that together with several other countries, Slovenia had launched an initiative for an international investigation of atrocities perpetrated in Ukraine led by the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, and that the country supported proposals to hold an emergency session of the UN Security Council on Ukraine.

STA, 2 March 2022 - The second rally in support of Ukraine in two days was held in Ljubljana on Wednesday with senior government officials condemning Russia's aggression and highlighting that Ukraine was fighting not just for itself but for freedom and democracy throughout Europe. 

The rally was organised by the Ljubljana-Kyiv Cultural Association, the Ukrainian diaspora and Ukraine's embassy and featured speeches by Prime Minister Janez Janša, deputy prime ministers Matej Tonin and Zdravko Počivalšek, National Council President Alojz Kovšca, and Ukrainian Ambassador Mykhailo Brodovych.

Ambassador Brodovych said Russian President Vladimir Putin wanted to punish Ukraine and its people for their Euro-Atlantic aspirations and desire to be part of the European family as he vowed that Ukrainians will "fight and defend our homeland".

He also thanked the people of Slovenia and the government for "determination, patriotism and support."

Prime Minister Janez Janša said that soldiers as well as civilians were dying in Ukraine fighting "not only for freedom, democracy and a European future, but for survival."

He praised the bravery of Ukrainians standing up to Russian tanks with their bare hands and drew parallels with Slovenia's independence war.

"When Slovenians saw and felt that we are united and brave, we knew we would succeed. But we still remember the tensions, threats and victims. This is why we know how the Ukrainians feel, hence the solidarity with them."

The prime minister singled out Ukrainian ore deposits, nuclear energy and fertile land as the reasons why Russia has attacked. He is convinced that those who think Putin should be appeased "have learnt nothing from history."

If Putin captures Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova and Baltic countries will be next, and perhaps other parts of Europe as well, he said.

Defence Minister Tonin similarly said that Ukraine's survival would mark the survival of freedom and democracy. "Every day that the Ukrainian people persevere, we are closer to victory and peace."

According to Economy Minister Počivalšek, Slovenians know, perhaps better than some other nations, that there is only one way - for the whole world to unite and stop the rampage. "I'm very glad that we are united in the EU," he said.

Slovenia's unity was also highlighted by Kovšca, who said Europe was "determined to defend the freedom of the world." It will pay the price in the form of higher energy prices, but "we will not let the dominoes of freedom and democracy fall."

Yevgeny Goreshnyk of the Ljubljana-Kyiv Cultural Association stressed that Ukraine wanted to become a member of the EU and thanked Slovenia, in particular Janša for his advocacy of Ukraine's EU membership.

A statement by Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal was read and in it he mentioned yesterday's destruction of the Slovenian consulate in Kharkiv. "Dear Janez, we will rebuild it together as a EU family. We are ready," he said.

The rally followed a similar gathering in Ljubljana yesterday that was organised by over thirty civil society organisations.

STA, 2 March - After Slovenia's largest bank, NLB, acquired the Slovenian subsidiary of Russia's Sberbank, Sberbank's operations in Slovenia resumed today with NLB chairman Blaž Brodnjak reassuring clients they have "no reason to worry any more, open accounts at other banks or transfer assets to other banks". They have full access to their money again, he said.

"Sberbank is already part of the NLB group and NLB owns it. Business will be conducted absolutely normally today, cash withdrawals will be unlimited and all Sberbank clients can use NLB ATMs free of charge already," Brodnjak said after Sberbank was closed for two days, and transactions and money withdrawals for clients limited to EUR 400 a day.

There will be no major changes for the 40,000 Sberbank clients, as they will continue to use this bank and keep their bank cards, he added.

NLB will first change the name of the previously Russian-owned bank, which was on the verge of collapse after the Russian bank's European division was forced to suspend operations in the face of the Ukraine crisis.

Then the bank will be gradually integrated into NLB. Only after this process is concluded, which is expected to take over a year, will the bank accounts be transferred to NLB.

Some operative problems may still occur today as the bank reopens but customers should not worry about that, Brodnjak said.

"Sberbank has NLB's potential at its disposal today, and liquidity reserves of billions of euros, which exceed all deposits at Sberbank, have no burdens and can be accessed at any time," he stressed.

Sberbank has its own liquidity reserves as well and now it can also access those of the whole NLB group, he added.

"We will give as much money as necessary, but we are convinced there will be no more rush as of today."

Brodnjak would not reveal how much NLB paid for Sberbank beyond saying that the sum was "appropriate given the circumstances".

The takeover has already been approved by the Competition Protection Agency, which said it had issued a decision on the early implementation of concentration while taking into account the public interest in the Republic of Slovenia.

In line with the relevant law, the agency may exceptionally issue such a decision before authorising the implementation of concentration to a certain extent or under certain conditions.

The condition is that the entity demonstrates in the proposal for acquisition that such implementation is necessary in order to maintain the value of the investment or to provide services of general interest, the agency said.

NLB signed the agreement on the takeover of the only Russian-owned bank in Slovenia with the central bank on Tuesday to preserve the financial stability in the country in the face of sanctions against Russia.

With the acquisition of Sberbank, NLB again becomes the leading Slovenian bank, controlling some 30% of the market measured by total assets to leapfrog the Hungarian OTP Bank Group.

Brodnjak said he was proud to see NLB, which needed to be rescued in the past, assume the role of a rescuer.

Sberbank currently has a dozen branches in Slovenia and NLB will soon have 71. Brodnjak said it was too early to say how the acquisition would affect this number and the number of Sberbank staff in the future.

At the moment, no changes will be made, and the management will also stay the same. However, the NLB will strive to appoint a new supervisory board as soon as possible, he said.

STA, 2 March 2022 - The government established on Wednesday a call centre through which experts in various fields will provide information on the assistance provided by Slovenia to citizens of Ukraine. The call centre will be open every day of the week from 8am to 6pm.

As the Government Office for the Support and Integration of Migrants announced, the free number 080 41 42 is available for calls from Slovenia, while the telephone number +386 1478 7530 is available for calls from abroad.

The helpline experts will be providing information about the entry and residence in Slovenia, procedure to recognise international protection and information on how individuals or organisations can provide financial or material aid.

The office has also set up a special e-mail address This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., while updated information and contact numbers are also available on the gov.si website in Slovenian, English and Ukrainian.

The first refugees from Ukraine have already arrived in Slovenia, and a campaign to collect humanitarian aid has also been launched.

According to the office, many individuals and organisations have expressed the wish to help residents of Ukraine, including by organising various types of transportation to Slovenia.

Infrastructure Minister Jernej Vrtovec meanwhile tweeted that "all Ukrainian citizens entering or transiting Slovenia for humanitarian or war-related reasons are exempt from paying toll on Slovenian motorways."

He added that additional information for motorway users was available on the telephone number +386 1518 8350.

STA, 1 March 2022 - Slovenia's largest bank, NLB, has acquired the Slovenian subsidiary of Russia's Sberbank in a move that the central bank said would preserve the financial stability in the country after Russian-owned banks suffered a loss of trust due to sanctions against Russia.

"There were two options for the resolution of the Slovenian Sberbank: either it ceases operations and savers are compensated in accordance with guarantee scheme rules, or it gets a new owner," the central bank said Tuesday evening.

The sale means that Sberbank branches will reopen tomorrow after two days of closure and limited transactions for clients. "All Sberbank clients will conduct banking services without disturbances from tomorrow." [ed. Wednesday]

NLB has acquired Sberbank's equity as well as all assets, liabilities and clients. "This is a fast and effective solution for all clients who suddenly found themselves in a difficult situation," NLB chairman Blaž Brodnjak said in a press release.

"At the close of the transaction, Sberbank Slovenija will get a strong and committed owner who will ensure smooth operation with its capital and know-how," he was quoted as saying.

The decision was reached in agreement with the EU's Single Resolution Board, which determined that Sberbank's subsidiaries in Slovenia and Croatia were "failing or likely to fail due to a rapid deterioration in their liquidity situation," even as it decided no resolution was necessary for their Austrian parent, which will be liquidated.

SRB chair Elke König said the three decisions "protect financial stability and the depositors up to an amount of EUR 100,000 in Austria and with no limits in both Slovenia and Croatia."

"Today, we acted to protect the public interest and ensure financial stability. All of this has been done without having to use public funds, so not only are Sberbank's customers protected, the taxpayer is too."

The price of the NLB transaction has not been revealed. Central bank governor Boštjan Vasle told the TV show Odmevi that there had been significant interest by the largest and most important banking institutions. The Single Resolution Board picked the solution that satisfied the largest number of criteria.

Slovenian Sberbank is the only Russian-owned bank in Slovenia.

STA, 1 March 2022 - The Slovenian Foreign Ministry said that the building housing the Slovenian consulate in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv had been destroyed in Tuesday's attack by the Russian army, condemning the act as well as Russia's aggression on Ukraine as such. Consulate employees were not injured.

"We have been informed that the consulate of the Republic of Slovenia in Ukraine has been destroyed in one of the military attacks on the city of Kharkiv. We condemn this outrageous act of the Russian Federation and the aggression against Ukraine," the ministry said.

Prime Minister Janez Janša also responded to the news, saying on Twitter that "we experienced the same approach from Yugoslav communist army 30 years ago. It didn't work, Mr. Putin. Neither will today in Ukraine. You can't defeat united and brave nation."

Žal smo bili obveščeni, da je bil v enem izmed vojaških napadov na mesto Harkov uničen tudi konzulat Republike Slovenije ?? v Ukrajini ??. Obsojamo to nezaslišno dejanje Ruske federacije in agresijo nad Ukrajino.
#WeStandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/ncSlXIPOFE

— MFA Slovenia (@MZZRS) March 1, 2022

Janša also said that "we are examining the agreements signed with the Russian Federation and we will terminate all those related to the defence, security and political spheres of cooperation."

"Much of the world is doing the same. We call on the Russian people to choose a leader who will not endanger their neighbours and the world," the prime minister added.

Defence Minister said that the attack was an "inadmissible act of aggression that only shows how uncompromising the Russian attack on Ukraine is."

Opposition Social Democrats (SD) president and MEP Tanja Fajon also responded on Twitter, strongly condemning the "continuation of Putin's barbaric aggression against Ukraine! Unheard of."

Staff at the consulate, which is headed by Consul General Anatoliy Bondarenko, were not injured in the attack.

This comes after the head of the EU delegation to Ukraine Matti Maasikas noted the attack on Twitter, saying that "the Slovenian Consulate in Kharkiv was destroyed as a 'collateral diplomatic damage' as well."

The consulate is located in Freedom Square, which was the target of a Russian missile attack today that killed at least ten people and injured 35, according to the BBC.