By Michael Wasiura
The southern port city of Mariupol (click here) has been the site of some of the fiercest fighting seen thus far in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. On March 16, Mariupol's deputy mayor, Serhiy Orlov, estimated that between 80%-90% of the city's buildings had been damaged. In the six weeks of continued fighting that followed, the situation has only gotten worse.
Russian domestic television, however, presented its audience with an alternative version of events. A four-minute news segment broadcast on Russia's First Channel on the evening of April 28 made the following claim:
"After explosions, firefights, pain, and blood, Mariupol is returning to normal life, and as a notable symbol of this, schools are already accumulating lists of students....
Russian domestic television, however, presented its audience with an alternative version of events. A four-minute news segment broadcast on Russia's First Channel on the evening of April 28 made the following claim:
"After explosions, firefights, pain, and blood, Mariupol is returning to normal life, and as a notable symbol of this, schools are already accumulating lists of students....
I have said this from the beginning. Now the Russian Victory Day is coming up and this is a very dangerous time for the world. I would expect anything to happen.
Victory Day in Russia is about nationalism. The world needs to be on guard when the day of nationalism comes and goes. He is using the idea of nazis to win elections. Victory Day and the illusion of having changed the path of Russian Speaking people to the "righteous path," might be enough for Putin. He might simply move on, but, there is a chance he will insist the hatred of the Russia people as grown to the point of intolerable after being the savior of Mariupol.
It is a very dangerous time for the world. There is no doubt in my mind the communists and other violent regimes are taking aim at The West and allies of freedom and democracy. The question is will they decide engaging power to bring a war to conclude the final solution is actually the best path forward or will they come to terms that The West and allies of freedom and democracy to TRY AND CREATE an opportunity for economic growth and prosperity?
I think the idea the communists and violent regimes will look for economic opportunity is remote. It probably exists among the political parties within the countries, but, those parties are in the minority. Recently Aung San Suu Kyi was convicted of corruption. Alexei Navalny is in prison and just had his sentence increased. One of the reasons he went back to Russia was to let the people witness the complete control and power Putin holds over innocent people. The man was poisoned by Russian agents and no one even bothers to investigate or hold the guilty responsible. If Russia doesn't want to extradict then convict attempted murders for what they are.
The Free World can all witness now the depth of deception regarding Mariupol. The city has been leveled to rubble and the remaining citizens forced to starve to death. And the Russian media is painting pretty pictures for the people who are helpless to end their own corruption.
This is a very dangerous time in the world. Very.
April 29, 2022
By Kate Murphy
Victory Day on May 9 (click here) is a symbol of national pride for Russians, much like Independence Day on July 4 is for Americans. The Russian national holiday celebrates the historical victory of the Soviet Union over Nazi Germany in World War II.
This year, the 77th anniversary of Victory Day comes amid a brutal and devastating war Russia is waging in Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s stated reason for the “special military operation” in Ukraine — the false claim that he wants to “de-Nazify” Russia’s neighbor — deliberately invokes World War II history....
