Transcripts For DW Pro-War 20240705

Dont r s activist journalist and politicians living and anxiety too much on my shoulders. But i have to hold this way because im responsible for the future follow country for the people who are behind the bus for the english, people need to know what is happening there in our series guardians of truth watch now on youtube Dw Documentary, the so the that morning i woke tilden, russia had invited you crane trips on social media. I see the 1st problems pulling on keys. The it is the 24th of february 2022. I burst into tears. How am i supposed to go on living normally when my country is attacking its neighbor to respond like a film, make us my talk. This is take your camera and shoot. The technology has advanced to a point where i can assume on my own i can shoot with my own camera without any financial support. Sometimes i also use my smartphone. Since i dont have an official filming account to attract attention under any circumstances and have to remain strictly monogamous. The on the evening of the 24th of february 2022, i went to an anti war protest in the center of some patients book the i am extremely nervous demonstrations in russia. Im fine at least suppressed tonight. Me and my camera facing hundreds of riot police and special task forces the around 2000 people have gathered in the center of some petersburg, the 493 demonstrations taken into custody. This ticket has been published by an independent n g, or functioning against political persecution in russia. The, the, the, if my film is to show the full picture of the situation in this country, i have to leave the big cities and go to russia. I just want to leave some pages, but it goes from my hometown to meet my friends on camera and see how they are coping with the war. The. Its an ordinary small town. Typical if the post date either on the outskirts of to the northwest of most go the she a poverty and depression a so to face. If the residents dont even notice it, any more young people lead to study and must go some pieces. But the 1st opportunity, while others survive with jobs, the many joined the army because the pay is special. The 1st thing i do is contract my childhood friend valentino. We lost touch when we studied in different cities around and teen until some issues married to a soldier alex saying the in march, they agreed to meet me wretchedly and tell me what they think about the war. But suddenly, on the condition, they remain anonymous for their own safety. Speaking to me to put them in danger, even in prison, the alex i has said to me for several years hes often central emissions, but never to was on the a few weeks before the invasion began, he was transferred to the ruse for military training. He didnt know then that immediately afterwards hes regiment would invade ukraine. The each and there was another important point. He also said this himself, and it could be good if he could also say it in front of the camera now. But well, i will do it for him. He joined the army to defend his homeland, not to attack other countries. Thats the point. And thats whats bothering him. In the 1st few days, you told me im a shame to be here is the most places the rest of the price. Every time i visit valentine, this is clued to the will coverage. The media keeps it on the continuous loop. This is really crazy because helping the fellow will the safe news propaganda, which tells a completely different story from what the lex, i report spot from the front launch a new crime. Now it is really crazy that the russians are reporting the war while not showing a single piece of military equipment in the city or in the village. There was not a single indication that fighting took place on this and there is no evidence whatsoever that this is a village near keith was not even the name of the village was mentioned. They would have to show something concrete. They want to prove that ukrainians approve of this. Basically theyre saying the soldiers came, took the water left and did not lose. Nobody in ukraine appreciates this. Nobody says to the russians. Thank you for the liberation. The know, in any case, you know, information from the army is exactly like the information on the 1st channel. So it has the same propaganda in the beginning, they actually claim that cave would be taken within a few days ago to use such as are supposed to be a 1000 to produce as a part of news. But i remember my 1st calls are without like say very well, i should have a few said thats and then so i have said t if because i was. So he said that the advance was successful on the 1st or 2nd day in which because ive obviously none of them expected to stay there for long distance. So youve gotten them yet, i should throw statutes from them. So i assume valentine is every day life until april everything revolves around leg size cools, its constant washing and fia the execution. I started keeping this diary at the end of 2021. Thats about the situation. Up until february, almost after the 24th of february, i wrote only one entry. Im waiting for alex 8 to daniel. The session is a total. Yes. I can say that it makes me feel better and im just not able to plan anything any longer. My whole life now consistently only of waiting for calls to hear from you present for a phone call telling me that everything was fine. For that alex a was wounded or dead. Yeah. So what on your on the front lines it becomes clear without giving much detail that elect size, view of the conflict has become more radical. So what do you want people to know when they see this video . One day war is how never do anything like this. Its terrible. The im about to be discharged. A friend introduced to e phone. I think thats the one from austria hungry. Like many young men from the to the region. Hes in the army either from a drone or from a misfire. This is made of ceramic hes agreed to be filled, although he knows that our political views default. Intuitively, i think hes a good person. He just had a different Life Experience to me and grew up in a very conservative family. Is confident and tools openly. His only condition is that i dont show his face telling the truth about the copeland soldier skin prison or was the just you want to, you know, we were told nothing would happen. Of course, it was just like all way through sometime in february, probably between the 15th and the 20th. I dont remember exactly like gave us cancels we were supposed to use to put our names on uniforms. The next. And then the deployment of troops began 300 or 400 kilometers away, were having the life force. And from there we marched on with much stuff, differential websites for the on the 23rd of february, they congratulated us on the days the defender of to find them in the loop. And then the work started straight away. First orders were given Women Commission them. Im all that much, i 1st started understand how it always works, the store, so to use read days and nights of uninterrupted action, changing posts on which one should gradually realize whats going on. Who to go with. A lot of people for us though, but we werent afraid after a talk, we chose this job. Now we had to do it and all kinds of stuff just to see if this firing at least you can hear it and see it for the so i am trying to react you any here. Drones at the last moment to the very small you cant see them when theyre still far away. And you dont see the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles because i have flying high up in the south for the what is it . It doesnt matter. What do you think of something called or other school with a special operations that doesnt change anything . Its one of the same. You know what its cool. Its just a different name and nothing else. So i know what the, so of the most people in the Region Support to send and his special operation. The call to express my opinion if i want to continue filming without trouble from the authorities. Propaganda is every way in the media and is also spread by the local authorities today, the city of vision, the violet ciocca, is putting on an impressive demonstration to support our president and also our boys to for our new cray. No, right, we came to show everyone that we stand together and that we will never give up our National Values that you most of the top of the maria is even small. That she was born in ukraine when it was still part of the soviet union. Like many russians, shes a hotline who supports the war and president putin. Im not sure if maria knows my true stance on the war and ukraine. Its like, i have a female polluted in front of me. A few, a product of the criminal mass propaganda like her son, she told openly in front of my camera, i can ask a direct, even provocative questions. To live, were noted for only with ukraine, but with the whole world. Were not fighting against it, but we are in opposition to it. Maybe not for the all countries, but definitely with the western european countries. Were disrupting them and they want to destroy what causes disruption. But either way, its about our defense, adams, which hasnt much of a shape. The, the commemoration is on victory tanks occupying important place in rushes collect to consciousness. They celebrate brushes, victory over the nonsense, and what we call the great, takes you off the pool. Image twenties and so the citizens dont the given the con conflicts. Im curious if the 9th of may, 2022 will be celebration differently. The traditional highlights of the day is the much the more for regiments to take part in the procession. One print, social social over performing relative of social from the great takes the altered war and then attached as the patient to a stick. The when i was younger, i took part in the procession myself with my great grandmothers portrait. She managed to escape the siege of leningrad and survive. One of my memories of her is that she always painted a lunch down to the last from down to the break from scott to the table. She told me that means the hung up and to the, the the, on this month of may, the licenses and the every way. But many dont know what they mean. These letters, which appeared at the beginning of the ukraine invasion, associated with orange and black colors from saint georges, written symbolizing victory as in nazi germany. The symbols of the past and present fuse into one, creating an alternative vision that says this propaganda. The, this memorable day ends with a huge fireworks display in scope of some pages book. A shift runs down my spine. The sounds of the explosions. Remind me of the bombing of ukraine, the back in the today at region. I may, boris marias 2nd son. Its a boat that we put in that last night of the shell was about this big and it was packed with his truck. No, like this. Boss also asked me not to show his face. He had a decent job but decided to follow his brother who was already at the front because of his ukrainian roots from the dont bus. He sees that has this juicy to fight for his homeland is quite critical of the special operation. But the leads and the rebus of a great russia in the middle of the leash, but also for others to know you dont mind, he will be good if a person has encouraged to see the situation for himself on the ground, then he would realize how screws we uh, lets just say the least of the soldiers on the ground, on and for fucking up late is that the top i told that everything is going great and hes concerned. But thats not the reality because the specific government of its the same with the army is equipment and weapons between the guys there, for example, have no body armor or helmets before there are plenty of cartridges, but no ammunition quite some issue there. So unless you, so i think that those, that the toddlers dont may not present in a given by the commanders on sharing the whole story. What am i supposed to unfortunately, in my opinion, my new fulton does not have a good team of his own that has been fighting on 2 friends all his life. Thats almost like an external front. On the internet front of ours, the star country nowadays is ruled by the guards whose interest is not the welfare of our country. They are working only to fill their own pocket. Its called globalization to friday, just fast for our government. I always say that gives me a good coordinate launcher and ill take them all down. Oh, by them so that the system of government will probably have to change this for. But how its hard to say, and its unlikely that history will repeat itself and well get another minor key. But we definitely need some kind of iron fist on of the, to me and for most people, critical of the regime. Its clear that the do not certification of ukraine is not the real reason for the war. Fusions main concern is restoring the former glory of the us. They saw the russian empire cushion ceased himself as the news of the father of the nation. Many russians supposing, because he makes them feel proud and may arise, embodies the return of the great russia of the past. Television propaganda promotes the ideas of wisdom. Countries want to see the end of russia. They say a special operation is the answer to this rate. The i want to find out how many soldiers from my beach and died at the front. But i quickly realize that its impossible to get reliable because as the number of casualties is constantly rising, the nikisha was killed by a drunk. He was 32 years old, the his mother and sister are in deep voting. I learned if hes been through one of his friends. Im told of rena physically to tell the story on camera, the a 33 and what a one morning. He said to our mother and will so thats announces of e as a whole. Just as mother looked at him and asked what mamma . He replied, i am going to go into battle. Now you have the political blue, but its the blue, not it was on may 17 images, 10 oclock in the morning. My mother called me and was so hysterical that at 1st i couldnt understand what she was saying. Im glad if she was shouting so loudly answered the phone you seem to come on when she said that she had received a call from the military was to swim, come, i knew instantly that it wasnt good news, but dont us call out of the blue. I couldnt understand it at all as far as i can you feel it doesnt . I didnt cry any annual. No, everyone around me was crying out of supplies for the i didnt just had a single tier because i just didnt leave it with me because i saw no, it cant be. It simply cant be mine. The key to the always paid attention and was careful. Couldnt have died there, bluff those, let them fly in you. When you move by, you lose the, you know, long has it been so and it will be 6 months just, i cant believe at all. And im still waiting for a call from amazon, cuz i havent deleted our last conversation on watson and be there till my last message to him is only one check mark. I cant delete it, had wont do it. And itll, cuz theres a few minutes. The, the only consolation is that he didnt suffer for a long to so new, he probably didnt even realize what was happening going, you know, all of a sudden everything was over plus that, thatd be what i was and was so the, in the middle of some of the local, so shes hold of gathering, an owner of nikita you celebrated as a full national hero. Once again, propaganda is using the suffering of people to justify most of those policies. On february 24th 2022, russian president Vladimir Putin announced a special military operation in connection with a situation in the dunbar to ensure russias national security. It seems like the Russian Military uses, putting on a relic effort during the special military operation in the done bodies, etc. Well, today were unveiling a plaque in honor of our fellow citizen, the key test berrydunn who has been awarded the order of valour origin, the most the to the best to get this flux is placed in remembrance directly opposite l flat, which lies proudly and honorably overall land over allergies. But im not sure the im already starting to get used to this. Its like, i dont feel anything any more. The more exhausting and absurd. It gets to move my brain shuts off. So that i dont go crazy the, this will reminds me of the was in the middle ages with brothers killed each of them as a succession to the throne because of patients was, ukrainians will never consider russians as brothers. Again, the, what about russians themselves . How did they feel about attacking the neighboring country with some of them even have family. The special operation is being carried out against people who are sobs like us. Russians like that too. And we are russians. We share the same mentality and that plays a big chromebooks. Everyone is holding out until the end of fighting temperature. And this of course makes it very difficult to progress. And the break area includes the brother nations, after all those that we should be friends or for, but in fact were at warning and thats not ok. Absolutely not sure. Which one . Sure. One human being kill another human being. To the purpose kids say for what purpose . Sure. Just because some guy above him said he should do it to the store, to quote and then he goes and does it stand sure. Trucks consult office . Do you see, dont you have a mind of your own adventure and thats the assumption or yeah. Or are you just a sheep and the flock to the, to cook off so starts, do you just do what youre told to do . 09. The return to my friend valentino. It is april, now. I noticed the fear in her eyes. She looks different. Of the russian regime, conte control information, circulation of social media. The Horror Stories and rule crimes of the Russian Troops reached the families of the soldiers. This christmas and most of whom i knew that he probably wouldnt return as the person i knew no response from. I dont know what he did there, but i assume it was nothing good, no nothing. And i was very curious to see how it would all go face with you just needed to, i dont know how to justify alexs actions. If it turns out that he was involved in all this car, it would be a big test for our relationship. And of course i know his character and i am sure that he would never harmon, an armed person like what happened in boucher. So im not concerned about it. But if it turns out that he was in any way involved before, then i would have been completely mistaken about what kind of a man he is, was telling me the news from bush. So lets do this. And then yes, yes. You know, that all came out after he left. I shall. Im just went to the lake and i say anything about butcher. But the only later, at 1st he didnt say anything about it. And if i do this, after some research, i discovered a soldier from his unit was near butram of your loss. Then i started asking questions as to what you, what process the, the most terrible moments. And this was to me was when i learned from the independent media about the crimes commissioned by Russian Troops and mario and boucher. I still cannot understand how on um, civilians can be shopped with their hands tied. The russian authorities officially claims that the master couldnt butcher was a folks fake news. They claims that the corpse as hands were moving that they were professional actors. Anyone who contradicts the official version ends up in prison. One of my favorite positions creek is indigo ya. Sion is now sitting 9 years in prison for allegedly spreading false information about the butcher, the even saying what im saying right now is consist of crime in my country. I feel very uncomfortable when i see alexa again. I cant help but ask him what he knows about boot shots. And more importantly, whether he was there must regarding the massacre of innocent people there. I dont know anything about that. So the official come ship. We had already started to retreat as drive time, which shit, the guys who stayed in, boucher told us that they had also been given the green lights to retrieve the short time here. I only wanted one thing. We have to leave as quickly as possible you. I, alexia shows me, he does not include the children, have nothing to do with the crimes. I believe him that a mess because the scale to play seems unimaginable to him. The. I want to also ask bores about domestic, cuz it doesnt get into school. What about the huge Burial Ground that was discovered . There is no visitors just now its probably the work of the ukrainians again a so this is a tactic of this to a scam hungry because of poor was show but there are hundreds of people you saying the ukrainians killed the wrong people the you and you for this thing, yes you, they dont mess around with it. So put them with a voided, for example. So you need a little girl said when they killed them on the spot. So just basic, couldnt do what it really shocks me to hear these words from boris. Had underestimated tomorrow, propaganda, the war has stretched into the summer, much longer than the regime find goes through the russian armies, lack of preparation and organization is becoming a v as is approved. But the authorities werent publicly admission. Jennings, to dismiss testimonies keeps surfacing doubts about the war a growing so you know, it is easy to use to move that little glitch in this even being claims that were ready for a 3rd world war and for the use of Nuclear Weapons you. But i wonder if we dont even have shelves around want as an explosive charges where i miss austria, how can we worry about using Nuclear Weapons . Well, i doubt that we even have as many as i say, i dont know how this is all going to win, but so far it looks like we are losing the at the end of august, the death of mikhail gorbachev. To sickness this, an important chapter in russian history is coming to an end to me with his funeral. The idea of freedom in my country is also being laid to rest. The i was born in 1998 and gorbachev was already as a power. I only know about his achievements through the stories of those. He lives for this time of freedom and type. Ukraines independence is one of the changes that came out of that time. Unlike me, many russians, even those my age, consider a big mistake. The return to my home town, the summer is coming to an end. The war dried so home. Thanks to wisdom, military aid, your training and forces are able to take back some tower tree. Jump on, you know, i understand why our guys are advancing slowly. You know, they want to stay at the civilian population and they are trying to destroy as little as possible. I can understand that. But why is nothing else being done . Why arent the bombing the railway launch will have that is, why did they find being left sick . For recently, even down the town is roughly 100 kilometers from key. If you, why do we allow polish weapons to be transported through a great and this force tomorrow . Why are they not bombing the real reason . There are in many remote parts of russia like this one. The army is the biggest employer of the soldiers and move and other jobs and usually would come to good conditions. The invasion of ukraine has changed the work completely for the financial incentives still keep the families of soldiers killed at the front are also compensation substantially. I wonder if this is meant to keep mothers and assistance from to nelson who the stucco military commissary, out 1st by our side 247. And so just being opposed, it was constantly about support payments so that when we were constantly on the phone with us to go into, this was everyone wanted to know how much money my mother had received was her phone was ringing off the small groups. Where did they pay you . Have you got some money yet . How much did you get on zillow . So many people asked directly. Oh, can you lend me some moreno . You are a millionaire now. Yeah. And yes, and i have to deal with because of the and then after about 2 weeks to receive the 1st 1000000, then another 5000000 roubles. I finally a little more than 60 square feet because he bought a flat with it and did a lot of other things with it is request to them. Got one, and i think thats exactly would nikita would have done the dual store. Thats probably what he, what he wanted to push the fuel boom, leaving and then it reflect silver of the on the 21st of september, president pollution announced the mobilization of 300000. 00 additional soldiers to continue his special operation. While not surprising. It shocked many Young Russians to the when the mobilization was announced, i was completely hysterical either at the time i was with my husband, i mean dor, when i heard pretend speech to the most into my mind so much that my husband spend half of the night trying to calm me down, whats in the nose at the slowness book, a store . No, my cried and said, im not letting you go. And yeah, that they have already taken my brother away from me. Its been yeah. I wont survive another death and that my family a go 1st the little you show the phrase, the goes to me a problem. I cant stand it tomorrow. And you spoke with the after 3 months on the ukrainian front, 17 as customers. Finally, hon alex i service with the army has ended. They spend full peaceful months together, rebuilding their married life, but mobilization ruins, they have plans to choose which theres no way i want to go back to the front. Not of the left flank or into the right flank. This is all this is that him kind of friendship is the kind of friendship, is this, you attacked our neighbors, you eat it because of the funded so many of my friends died for the most to try you crying about this is not partial mobilization according to him, you are definitely part of the 2. You went through military training and you served for a very long time somewhat, you know, way. And you have experience in military operations. Get out while there was only a partial mobilization and not a general mobilization. The where are you crying . Because you wont have any luck come down. Im still here for now people. This is and im staying here. Whats the matter with you . To know . Why couldnt he just say that he was withdrawing the troops that theyre just not up for it. Hey, you guys have gone too far with the 2nd piece making armies. Lets go home. To come down on the 21st of september, demonstrations against the mobilization take place. The protest is mostly women who dont want this sounds and husbands to become ken and photo the this time im not so lucky they are risk to me. The lawyer helps me escape punishment, but now im registered as a political activist. The people are arrested with me receive funds, some or in prison for up to 15 days. Was good and she wants to turn the chest off, which is from the demo you the as one of the young men, the rest of the demonstration is taken directly to the Recruitment Office when he receives his draw the presents instead through the 20 to 2022, nearly 20000 people has been arrested in russia during protest against the war and by the laws ation. The announcement of mobilization had an unexpected effect. Some of the potential new recruits, as well as some experience, so just one to avoid being drafted as old costs. Some break their arms or legs and many dislike to leave russia. The alexa has decided to go to the catholics. Tom i may see him at the end of september. Every day he talks to valentino on the phone and tries to reassure, hey, how are you doing . Good, im great. Here i love you to honey. Like alexa, hundreds of thousands of russians have fled the country since the war began to peruse and supposes they have. Traces should be classified as foreign agents. And also now back into the country, i want to call those who fled to definitely not be allowed back into russia. Im very harsh on them. Yeah, just making sure the. Busy the as an old adults christian myself, i find it hard to understand how the church can support the school. But the russian, all the adults, bishop patriot cadell sit in a speech delivered shortly after the war broke house. The participation in the military operation washes way or seen. My face in the Russian Church is shaken. Alexa feels the same way. Where do you go to . I believe in god my name, but i dont believe in our church to put the stuff on the card because its not the way its supposed to be on the phone except yeah. All the boys say that were moving here and look like the they always say, no, i dont believe in gods thoughts of yours, and i dont believe in him to a new fiddle, which should have contributed as soon as they get into a life threatening situation of civil for the, for the 1st thing they do is pray to god that everything will turn out. All right, it starts at the corner, hold and okay. Oh. And then when the situation is over and theyve homes down, they dont believe in god again a good, i still dont 48. So heres my honestly, i dont know what all this is about. I have no idea how can god allow such a thing to see what the church tells us is complete nonsense, old shift pulling the pieces deals many young man from the physical region have joined the army. The symmetries con, tied the countless new graves of phone and soldiers. But the subject is to the filming, and his symmetry can be seen as an act of provocation. Close to us through the shoulders. She just now it went on, came up to us and spoke to us. He was friendly about it. He had a scar on his face. He politely asked us not to take photos of the soldiers who said that they had just come back to see it just rush, just as good. How do you feel now that youve seen the graves with the flags your team . Im feeling very ambivalent on the one hand, i think sand god, alexi is not one of them. On the other hand, i would like to walk down the road and look for familiar names. I know there are some boys who fought with him here, and i would like to tell him who they are by the ticket is the Orthodox Church forces its leadership to remain silent on the subject. Before this priest refused to be filled. I question to him the hidden camera. Joke, your social . Im sorry to lose this, isnt so many of them are already buried here with me. Yeah, sure. So i talk with those who have come back from the front. It was a shift. The only thing i can say is that all those who are there and afraid are coming back because of issues. For there is pretty much a guarantee that you will return home. Because a little doors to this, the almost a year has passed since i started filming, continues to rage a new crane for this ease on and far as for petune to the front. The peace to celebrate consist easy with us with another brother, the maria Still Believes that ukraine belongs to russia, valentino and the lex, i dont know when they will see each other again, doesnt excite and still approach the mine. Life has also been upside down since february 2022, the cost of the loss to me, i had to leave my home to ensure my safety and the safety of the people being still along the film itself. To me, it is a big leak into the on many of my friends of also slid to escape mobilization. We have now sprayed all over the world. I missed my hometown, my friends, and my family. Keeps thinking about the absurdity of this rule between my country and ukraine, and ask myself to turn on question, what can i do . The, [000 00 00;00] the the shift your guide to life in the digital world. To explore the latest online, try to navigate your way through the digital jungle. Get a global perspective, will be your guide and show you whats possible. 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