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An Irish man has made his feelings on the Ukrainian invasion clear by allegedly backing his truck into the gates of Russia's embassy in Dublin.
Desmond Wisley claims he merely wants the Russian ambassador to get out of Ireland.
After reportedly crashing his vehicle into the embassy gates, the Leitrim businessman hopped out of the truck and began handing out pictures of the atrocities committed by Russian soldiers against the Ukrainian people.
“I just done this to create a safe corridor for the Russian ambassador to leave Ireland,” he said.
“I want the ambassador and his colleagues to leave this country, leave this free country.
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“It’s about time we stood up.”
According to the Irish Times, he could be heard saying 'I’ve done my bit, lads. It’s about time the rest of Ireland done their bit,' as he was led away by police.
Protective barriers have since been erected around Dublin's Russian embassy. There were no injuries sustained during the incident.
In a video released online, witnesses can be heard praising Wisley for his actions, telling him 'well done' and 'bravo'.
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Lukasz Ryz, a Polish man who was in the group of protesters outside the embassy at the time, told local media that Wisley initially drove past the embassy before reversing his truck at the gates.
“He said to everyone: I want to destroy this gate. He made sure everyone was out of the way. He was conscious of safety,” Ryz said.
Another protester thought Wisley was lost when he started reversing the truck up to the gates, before adding she was 'shocked how quick [the gate] went down' considering the secure nature of the facility.
The Russian embassy hit out at Wisley and local police, who they claim 'stood idle' as the incident occurred before them.
“The embassy strongly condemns this criminal act of insanity directed against a peaceful diplomatic mission," Russian embassy spokeswoman said.
"The incident is cause of extreme concern. We believe that no people of sound mind could support such senseless and barbaric actions."
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In the days leading up to the gate-ramming, the Russian embassy has been the target of vandals.
Red paint has repeatedly been thrown on the entrance by protesters, while graffiti has been strewn across the exterior.
'Nazis', 'Blood on your hands' and 'F**k Russia' are just some of the things that have been painted on the building by protesters in the wake of Russian's invasion of Ukraine.
Desmond Wisley was arrested for criminal damage and is expected to appear in court on Tuesday (March 8)
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.
Rachel Lang