Civilians Wave And Cheer Russian Soldiers As They Travel To War In Ukraine
Topics: Vladimir Putin, Russia, Ukraine
Poppy Bilderbeck
Featured Image Credit: Ukraine Ministry of Defence
Topics: Vladimir Putin, Russia, Ukraine
Ukraine's Ministry of Defence has shared footage of Russian civilians cheering their troops on as they leave for Ukraine.
Since Russia's President Vladimir Putin sent troops across the border on 24 February, the Kremlin leader has been accused of 'genocide' by Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and heavily condemned by other world leaders, with US President Joe Biden calling for a war crimes trial against Putin.
However, Ukraine's Ministry of Defence have posted footage of Russian civilians on Twitter cheering their troops on, reflecting that it is not just Putin's battle but 'their war too'.
The footage shows military vehicles and tanks driving by, marked with symbols and adorned in flags, with troops waving back at civilians as they cheer them on their way to war.
The caption reads: "It is often said that ordinary Russians should not suffer from sanctions: after all, it’s Putin, not them, who started the war.
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"In this video, residents of Russia’s Kursk region happily see off Russian soldiers to go rob, rape and kill Ukrainians."
Despite the support for Putin's war exhibited in the video, Russian citizens have been divided in their views of the 'special military operation'.
Some Russian influencers have been more focused on the country's social media ban and tearfully spoken out about what it could mean for their careers.
Other Instagram models have taken to the platform to share footage cutting up their designer handbags in outrage over Chanel's decision to restrict sales in the country.
However, others have spoken out against the invasion, with one actress having seen her father turn against her for not supporting Putin.
There were also 'at least 900 arrests' at a series of anti-war protests held on the first day of the invasion.
A journalist interrupted a Russian news broadcast with a banner calling for the end of the war, telling viewers to not 'believe propaganda' from the Kremlin, who are 'lying to you', she proclaimed.
Some Russian soldiers have also spoken out against Putin's 'special military invasion,' with reports of units disobeying orders, other troops crying over what has happened and some fearing for their lives if returned to the country regarded as failures.
The release of the video of Russian civilians cheering Putin's soldiers on as they go to war follows horrific scenes of a massacre in Bucha, northwest of Kyiv.
President Zelenskyy reported that Russian troops 'cut out the tongues of Ukrainian civilians', among other atrocities.
While Russia has denied responsibility for the incident, a missile attack on a train station in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine also saw at least 50 civilians reported dead and over 100 injured.
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