Thank you for that narrative. It was extremely interesting and compliments my long time understanding of the situation in that reconstituted part of Russia. I always wondered why separating Kosovo from Serbia was America's demand but allowing Donbass to reunite with Russia is forbidden. There is definitely something wrong with this picture!
Fascinating to read about Russia/Ukraine. It's the first piece I've read on the region (ever) and I was very much drawn in. I have no idea how the Russian and Ukrainian people experience the war and what has happened to the people in the towns and villages. I hope in the future we'll get to know the people and their stories a little better. The rebuilding and all the construction going on sounds very impressive. I wish the people well, there has been much suffering,
Thank-you to Guy Mettan for this on-the-ground report. It certainly fits in with all my reading and understanding from even before the Azov/Zelenskiy/US-NATO killings - and provocation to a Russian move into the Donbas to protect ethnic Russians! Thanks, PL, too.
This accords with what I've read elsewhere (non_MSM). As I said someplace else, The US seems to always back the wrong side as evinced by Slick Willie sending his entire election team to Russia to get the US favored Boris Yeltsin elected who the Russians wouldn't have elected on their own. Even at this late date, I read a piece from AP in my local newspaper about Putin two days ago that did not mention what he had done for Russia but only claimed that he had made Russia an international pariah and didn't add at the end of the sentence: in the West anyway.
I’m coming a bit late to this report, and I’m open to a counter-narrative about the Donbas and its treatment by Ukraine. My concern, though, is about the complete lack of sourcing throughout the piece. For example, we are told about a Ukrainian neo-Nazi prison called the Library - but what is the provenance of this claim? How does the journalist stand up his account? And in fact, because he doesn’t stand it up, are we then intended to take it on trust? As I say, I’m open to a counter-narrative, but this reads like travel writing rather than investigative journalism.
I think the key is that this is what the people of the region are reporting. This is what a journalist can see all around him. These are places with few to no soldiers, These are the people of Mariupol and Donetsk. Every one of the handful of western reporters who goes to these places is telling the same story. When the Azov types were there, the people were terrified; they were being regularly mistreated, displaced, and put at risk. When the Russians came they helped rebuild and so were welcomed and did not need and have not used strong arm tactics. Read the Minsk accords,( it is an easy to understand 2 page document. Read about Ukraine's WW2 history and you will see the hatreds that are driving the Banderists.
Thank you for that narrative. It was extremely interesting and compliments my long time understanding of the situation in that reconstituted part of Russia. I always wondered why separating Kosovo from Serbia was America's demand but allowing Donbass to reunite with Russia is forbidden. There is definitely something wrong with this picture!
Fascinating to read about Russia/Ukraine. It's the first piece I've read on the region (ever) and I was very much drawn in. I have no idea how the Russian and Ukrainian people experience the war and what has happened to the people in the towns and villages. I hope in the future we'll get to know the people and their stories a little better. The rebuilding and all the construction going on sounds very impressive. I wish the people well, there has been much suffering,
Thank-you to Guy Mettan for this on-the-ground report. It certainly fits in with all my reading and understanding from even before the Azov/Zelenskiy/US-NATO killings - and provocation to a Russian move into the Donbas to protect ethnic Russians! Thanks, PL, too.
WOW, EXCELLENT! Cannot wait for the 2nd half. This was incredible!!!!!
This accords with what I've read elsewhere (non_MSM). As I said someplace else, The US seems to always back the wrong side as evinced by Slick Willie sending his entire election team to Russia to get the US favored Boris Yeltsin elected who the Russians wouldn't have elected on their own. Even at this late date, I read a piece from AP in my local newspaper about Putin two days ago that did not mention what he had done for Russia but only claimed that he had made Russia an international pariah and didn't add at the end of the sentence: in the West anyway.
Interesting reading. It would be nice to see a map where you went.
Thank you.
Thank you for this excellent report. Please some photos next time if possible.
Great article. One thing, the "Current Concerns" link at the end of the article didn't work for me.
Thanks, I'll check into that.
Scott, the link is now working. Thanks for pointing this out.
Subscribed.
I’m coming a bit late to this report, and I’m open to a counter-narrative about the Donbas and its treatment by Ukraine. My concern, though, is about the complete lack of sourcing throughout the piece. For example, we are told about a Ukrainian neo-Nazi prison called the Library - but what is the provenance of this claim? How does the journalist stand up his account? And in fact, because he doesn’t stand it up, are we then intended to take it on trust? As I say, I’m open to a counter-narrative, but this reads like travel writing rather than investigative journalism.
I think the key is that this is what the people of the region are reporting. This is what a journalist can see all around him. These are places with few to no soldiers, These are the people of Mariupol and Donetsk. Every one of the handful of western reporters who goes to these places is telling the same story. When the Azov types were there, the people were terrified; they were being regularly mistreated, displaced, and put at risk. When the Russians came they helped rebuild and so were welcomed and did not need and have not used strong arm tactics. Read the Minsk accords,( it is an easy to understand 2 page document. Read about Ukraine's WW2 history and you will see the hatreds that are driving the Banderists.