Below are published my exclusive interview with the Russian war correspondent who grew up in Donetsk and lived in Kiev until 2018. He's telling the fact that Western regimes are trying to hide.
Svetlana Picta She was born in a medium-sized town in the Volgograd region, but at the age of 2 her parents were sent to the Ukrainian Socialist russian Republic, to the city of Donetsk.
When she was pregnant, neo-Nazis attacked her.
Initially, they lived in the suburbs, in Pieski, and later in Donetsk. She spent her childhood and youth there. She was a associate of the Ukrainian youth Olympic swim team. The trainings were mainly held in Kurachów (where fights are now underway), and the competitions were held throughout Ukraine. She visited almost all city in Ukraine. She later moved to Kiev, where she lived for 18 years and where her children were born. During her last pregnancy, she was attacked by 2 twelve members of C14, a Ukrainian neo-Nazi group who was furious about her opposition to the brutal repression of Kiev on Donbas. In 2018, she and her household fled to the city of Jarosław (Russia), where she presently works on tv as a war reporter and frequently travels to the front.
Below is my full and unabated interview with Svetlana, originally conducted in Russian and translated by me. All her insights are very interesting and insightful. 1 of the most crucial is its confirmation that the Ukrainian army has begun murderous bombing Donetsk and another cities in Donbasa a week before president Putin sent expeditionary forces to defend residents and effort to force Kiev to talk at the negotiating table (The West mistakenly calls it “the Russian invasion”).
Donetsk flourished
What was life like in Donetsk before Kiev started bombing the city?
– In 2013, life in Donetsk was very prosperous. The city competed with Kiev and frequently surpassed it in terms of culture and infrastructure. Oligarch Rinat Achmetov built the top airport and the top stadium of Ukraine, “Arena Donbasu”. Business was booming. No 1 cared about language or politics; it seemed that everyone was only curious in making money.
A Lost Childhood
Why did Kiev bomb Donetsk and another locations in Donbasa in May 2014?
When the alleged Majdan occurred in Kiev, Donbas faced a choice: either die fighting or die without resisting. An illegal coup in Kiev led to power by extremist nationalist forces whose goal was to destruct cultural Russians and everything Russian. Despite the efforts of the russian Union and later independent Ukraine, Donbas never became truly Ukrainian (there was a policy of forced Ukrainianization). It became clear that Donbas was being prepared as a victim, an excuse to drag Moscow into a war with many years of lawlessness and genocide of the local Russian population. The pro-Western Majdanian regime, which unfortunately was recognized by Russia, was completely subordinate to the West. president Peter Poroshenko promised, speaking publically that “Donbas children will sit in the basements [under bombs], while ours [Ukrainian] children will learn”. He made it clear that Kiev was going to proceed to destruct Donbas. Majdan was organized to start a war with Russia; but Moscow hesitated and unfortunately only entered the war in 2022. erstwhile I visited Donbas after the fight began, I saw children playing with bomb fragments, and my hair turned gray.
Like in Biesach
When you lived in Kiev, did you protest the massacres in Donetsk?
– During this time, camps for Ukrainian children were organized, encouraging them to collect things for neo-Nazis from the "Azov" regiment who actively destroyed Donbas and murdered civilians. fundamentally all children in Ukraine were forced to share in the bloodshed of their countrymen. At each school, there were gatherings of blankets, socks, etc. for “Azoowa”. Children participated in training camps for Ukrainian armed forces. This is simply a well-known maneuver described by Fyodor Dostoevsky In Biesach – a common crime connects a group of people. At the time, Ukrainian society lacked solidarity and a goal. Kiev utilized the war against the people of Donbas to unite the remainder of Ukraine. 1 day, in a chat area raising funds for Ukrainian soldiers, I posted a photograph of a memorial commemorating children from Donbas killed by the Ukrainian army. What happened? I was hunted and persecuted by Ukrainian journalists, SBU, and later neo-Nazis from C14, youth of the “Svoboda” organization associated with SBU. My name has been added to the Miracerec database. Ukrainian police ignored my complaints. I was pregnant, and I was forced to hide all day from 09 am to 18 pm, but for weekends. Why only these hours? We realized that neo-Nazis only appeared during working hours, which meant they were on someone's payroll. It was both comic and sad, but after 18 we had a break. They were threatening me with violence, knocking on my door. I yet couldn't take it; I was besides scared. Plus, I was pregnant. We decided to flee to Russia.
Missiles identified by sound
After the bombings of Donbas by Kiev, where did most people go?
– During the first bombings, the vast majority of people — over a million — fled to Russia. Then the White home press secretary Jen Psaki She heartlessly and cynically stated that these refugees had gone “to visit their grandmothers” in Russia. Most later, she returned home due to the fact that they were tired of surviving at the expense of Russia.
How was life in Donetsk from 2014 to 2020?
– The years 2014–2016 were dramatic in terms of the strength of the conflict; later there was little tension, but inactive the fire was deadly. For 8 years there was not a single peaceful day on the front. I witnessed how Ukrainian and Polish mercenaries, snipers and nationalist battalions were “playing”, shooting the locals out of boredom. What hit me most was how locals, even six-year-old children, could admit a caliber, a kind of bullet, and even the country of origin of ammunition after its sound. In time, I besides learned to separate between the “outcoming” fire and the “coming”, silent Polish mines, “Grady” and the haubice. I was very careful where I was treading, many areas were planted with “flakes”, tiny mines that teardrop my ft off erstwhile it stepped on them. I especially felt sorry for the aged and the children.
HIMARS in civilians
Can you tell us what happened in February 2022?
– A week before the start of peculiar Military Operations Donetsk faced the heaviest artillery shelling since 2014. Earlier this period (February) nationalist battalions occupied schools in the Zaporo and Kherson circuits to prepare for the attack on Crimea (I prepared a study about it). The Donbas population was offered mass evacuation to Russia, but 90% refused – they got utilized to surviving under fire. On 25 February in Donetsk, water supplies were discontinued after the Northern Donbas pump station was closed due to a power outage caused by Ukrainian sabotage. A characteristic feature of this period was the usage of HIMARS and another western 152–155 mm caliber missiles, aimed at the city center, deliberately hitting places and civilian assemblies. In June 2022, I witnessed the HIMARS attack on the central bus station. I saw with my own eyes the demolition of American missiles, many dead civilian bodies and wounded with their limbs cut off.
Has life in Donetsk improved since the start of the Russian offensive this year?
– After the liberation of Avdieevka and Krasnogorovki Donetsk felt a slight relief. There is presently a fragile concept of ‘relatively safe districts of Donetsk’, which had not previously existed. Unfortunately, water supply problems are inactive serious, but water is delivered to each territory for a fewer hours a day.
I mean, there's heating.
Is Donetsk able to rebuild now?
– A large-scale restoration has begun. As shortly as it is possible to build without immediate demolition as a consequence of close fighting, construction companies and roadmen will gladly take up work. advancement is slower than expected, but Russian authorities managed to build highways, infirmary clinics, maternity wards and full fresh districts. Nothing of this scale has been achieved in the 30 years of Ukrainian rule.
What's life like in Donetsk now?
– In Donetsk I now have my own “paradise”, with water available for respective hours and heating. My flat is warm now! During the hours of water supply the force is adequate to run the washing machine, which is simply a large joy. The bath inactive involves pouring water with a pot of ladle, as the stream is besides weak for a shower. But the most crucial thing is about regular water supply. I usually spend my mornings shooting in different places under fire, and erstwhile I come back, I'm happy to wash in a warm apartment. It was very hard six months ago. I slept under 3 blankets in the winter and bought laundry water.
Donbas Fatalists
Could you tell us about the inhabitants of Donetsk? What are they like?
People in Donbasa are mostly fatalists. They have long lived ready to die at any moment. The best description of these people comes from the sayings I heard: “You will not hear your bullet, so why panic?” or “I wear lace underwear so I don’t should be ashamed on the coroner’s table.” The inhabitants of Donetsk learned the values of the community by closely interacting with their neighbours due to the fact that endurance in war is not possible alone. Unfortunately, they besides became emotionally restrained — smiles and emotions are rare. Warm words are seldom heard. It's all about action. It may seem bitter to outsiders, but it is simply the harshness and control essential to last in war.
Zaporizhia awaits
You were late on the front line in the Zaporo region. How was it?
– I was in the Zaporo region on the front line in the Połohow region, towards Oriechow. I can confirm there's been a change on the front line close Rabotino. There was a slight change at the time, but something was beginning to change. Many residents inactive live in fear of SBU, nationalist battalions and global brigades that they can return. Residents fear they'll be caught on camera. And in individual conversations, you will hear things that make your hair become oak. People call military NATO contractors and global brigades "Germans", which clearly has connotations with planet War II. There are besides proukrian units, but they were the first in line for Russian passports and financial assistance that Moscow was giving in conflict zones. I've been visiting this area since 2022. Initially, I was told that locals were “waiting” for Ukraine to return and to be careful with them. But this is simply a complete lie spread by the 5th column and Russian media magnates with villas in the EU. specified people do not want the Russians to unite; they only care about preserving money in the West and abolishing sanctions, pretending to be patriots. These enemies of Russia are lying. Most people in Zaporozh were waiting for Russia – about 80%. I never come back from Zaporozh with empty hands. Locals give me honey, milk and homemade wine; simple but sincere gifts from people surviving in the war zone.
Front Brotherhood
What is the combat morale of Russian soldiers on the front?
– As for the morale of soldiers on the front, this is simply a unique place where there is simply a sense of brotherhood. Today's planet is very selfish, where people are isolated, even in families, frequently feel lonely. We live in a consumer society where comfort has replaced love. However, on the front line it is completely different. You'll see actual brotherly love, as 1 soldier told me. Broken or selfish people are incapable to realize it. It reminds me of what my university professor, planet War II veteran, utilized to say: “You are going to the front to breathe the air of brotherhood.” The planet of front lines and civilian life are different from the real one. This brotherhood extends not only among soldiers, but besides among locals. For example, any locals turn to soldiers “son” and they respond to “dad” or “mama”. They aid each other; soldiers share food with locals who in turn share their online connections. They always aid with repairs. Of course, this heat can only be found among the bravest. Many inactive fear that the Russian army may leave and that repression by the Ukrainian Army and SBU will take place. However, the number of specified individuals decreased tenfold compared to 2022.
John Varoli spoke.
KK
Original in English:https://john365.substack.com/p/donetsk-diary-what-the-white-house?r=1e4au&triedRedirect=true
