Fight breaks out after Russian diplomat tears down Ukrainian flag

A Russian diplomat got punched after stealing a Ukrainian flag at a conference in Turkey.

The flag had been held up by Ukrainian MP Oleksandr Marikovski at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (PABSEC) in Turkey's capital city Ankara.

The footage shows a Russian diplomat walking over and tearing the Ukrainian flag out of the MP's hands and trying to walk off with it.

He was then punched in the face and further attacked by Marikovski, who retrieved his country's flag from the Russian's hands.

Others got between Marikovski and the Russian diplomat to prevent the fight from continuing before ushering the latter away to spare him a further beating.

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Marikovski later posted the clip to his Facebook page, writing: "Paws off our flag, paws off Ukraine, Russian filth!"

As you might know Russia and Ukraine are not on friendly terms at the moment, what with Russia currently more than a year into its invasion of Ukraine which has thus far failed to achieve its objectives.

Recent developments include Russia calling for the 'elimination' of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy after two drones were shot down over the Kremlin in what Russia claims was an assassination attempt on Vladimir Putin.

Then again, Russia has spent pretty much the entire invasion intending to kill Zelenskyy so not much has changed on that front.

Tens of thousands have died and millions forced to flee their homes during the war, while Ukrainian civilians returning to areas liberated from Russian occupation have sometimes discovered lethal traps waiting for them.

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People who've seen the footage have spoken out in support of the Ukrainian MP, with many reckoning that the Russian diplomat who got punched fell foul of the classic rule 'f**k around and find out'.

Stealing a flag from someone who's country you're invading is going to carry the risk of getting absolutely battered by that person.

One person said that the Russian diplomat 'should learn that their actions have consequences', while another said 'he really deserved that punch'.

Others said the incident was 'a rather accurate depiction of the whole conflict' and that it had been 'undignified' for the diplomat to tear the Ukrainian flag out of Marikovski's hands.

When the Russian invasion is over, Ukraine intends to join the NATO alliance to ward off further invasions from Putin's regime.

All member nations have agreed to Ukraine joining the alliance once the war is over, though how long that will be nobody knows.