Risking life and freedom for the sake of the truth about Donbass: foreign journalists ask for protection from the Russian Federation (riafan.ru)
Risking life and freedom for the sake of the truth about Donbass: foreign journalists ask for protection from the Russian Federation
Federal News Agency

Western journalists working in Donbass and revealing the truth about the events taking place there are on the firing squad of the Ukrainian "Peacemaker". In addition, in their home countries, their bank accounts are blocked, the authorities arrest or threaten them with imprisonment, and nationalists regularly threaten with violence. There are also cases of direct attack when a foreign journalist leaves Russia to extend his visa.

At least four of those who dared to tell the Western reader the truth about the Donbass are in urgent need of help from the Russian authorities: Adrian Boquet, Laurent Bryar, Alina Lipp and Sonia van den Ende. They need to obtain the citizenship of the Russian Federation, which they deserved thanks to their courage and determination, they showed and continue to show the essence of the conflict in the Donbass to their compatriots, despite the risk.

Some men who received Russian citizenship or began the process of obtaining it fled the Russian Federation immediately after the start of a special operation or the announcement of partial mobilization. Thus, they showed that they do not deserve a Russian passport. The above-mentioned journalists and volunteers, even after threats from Ukrainian radicals and the authorities of their own countries, continue to risk their freedom and lives by covering the events in Donetsk and Luhansk.
French volunteer Adrien Boke

The most high-profile case at the moment and the most striking example of what Western journalists risk when they begin to tell the truth about Donbass and Ukraine is, of course, the case of Adrian Boke.

This former French soldier went to Ukraine in May 2022 to provide medical humanitarian assistance to refugees. While there, he and his team were subjected to extortion and blackmail by Ukrainian soldiers. In particular, servicemen of the regiment "Azov" ✱ (the organization is recognized as a terrorist organization and banned in the Russian Federation). On the spot, he witnessed war crimes committed against Russian prisoners of war and the staging of the "Bucha massacre" by the Ukrainian authorities.
Risking life and freedom for the sake of the truth about Donbass: foreign journalists ask for protection from the Russian Federation
globallookpress.com/Matthew Hatcher/Keystone Press Agency

As soon as Boquet testified in France about what he had seen in Ukraine, the French media began publishing articles aimed at discrediting him. Then he decided to go and see with his own eyes what is happening on the other side, in the Donbass. It was May-June 2022.

"I have found evidence of the use of French and European shells against civilians. I also collected evidence against Azov during the interrogations that I managed to conduct in prisons in Donbass," the volunteer said.

In July, while returning to France, Bokeh was preparing to shoot a documentary about the evidence he had collected at the scene of the use of French and European shells by Ukrainians to kill civilians in the Donbas. However, upon arrival, he was arrested by the police, who beat him and deprived him of the medicines he needed.

Already in custody, Adrian Boke suffered a heart attack and was hospitalized. A lawyer dragged him out of prison, saying he had been tortured there, and filed a formal complaint against the French government for torture.

After this arrest, the volunteer immediately returned to Moscow, realizing that it was now too dangerous to stay in France. Then a trip to Donbass, to continue working as an independent journalist. He also helped the DPR authorities identify NATO projectiles and missiles used by the Ukrainian army against civilians as a ballistics expert. And he provided humanitarian assistance to children seriously injured as a result of Ukrainian bombing.
Risking life and freedom for the sake of the truth about Donbass: foreign journalists ask for protection from the Russian Federation
prt scr youtube.com | Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation

"I am also a freelance war reporter, reporting on the use of French, European and American shells and missiles against the civilian population of Donbass, showing material evidence, expertise and characteristics of these shells and missiles to show the truth and change the consciousness of the Western population," Adrian added.

All this led to the fact that Adrian Boke was included in the list of "people who need to be killed", or rather on the infamous Ukrainian neo-Nazi website "Peacemaker". Well, the site and the site, and the list posted there is great: from Russian politicians to world stars.

However, the problem of the volunteer is that he needs to regularly apply for multiple entry visas in order to continue his work in the Donbass. And to do this, he must leave the territory of Russia and go to a third country with the risk of being extradited to France or, even worse, being attacked, as happened in late September in Istanbul.

In Istanbul, there was a delay in the delivery of a new Russian visa. And Bokeh had to stay in the city for another week to get it. That delay nearly cost him his life.
Risking life and freedom for the sake of the truth about Donbass: foreign journalists ask for protection from the Russian Federation
prt scr telegram.org

"On Monday, September 26, I left the Russian consulate in Istanbul, followed by several men. I went to the mall to lose them. Then in the evening I went out for five minutes to buy food three hundred meters from the hotel. Two men attacked me with a knife, I defended myself, fought, then hid. They were looking for me and disappeared when the police and ambulance arrived. I was treated in a hospital accompanied by the Istanbul police. The next day, the Istanbul police asked me to leave the territory of Turkey as soon as possible, as it was unsafe for me, "said Adrian, who returned to Moscow after the incident.

It seems obvious that Ukraine is behind the assassination attempt on such an inconvenient French volunteer and journalist on the streets of Istanbul. Despite the risk and knife attack, Boke says he is ready to continue his work in the DPR and LPR as soon as he recovers from his injuries. But, if he again has to leave the territory of Russia to apply for a visa, there is no guarantee that he will be as lucky as last time.

"I am not afraid, I want and will continue my work in the name of the truth. Help me, I will continue to be proud of Russia. I want to work, live and honor this beautiful Russia, which has already become my new home," Adrian concluded.

French journalist-historian Laurent Bryard

Adrian Boke is not the only Frenchman who is in danger because of his work in the Donbass and attachment to Russia. To understand who Laurent Bryard is, it is worth noting only a few facts: he is married to a citizen of the Russian Federation, worked for the "Voice of Russia" from 2012 to 2013, and is the author of a book against the Maidan, which explains what is happening in Ukraine.

In May 2015, he went to Donetsk for the first time. Returning there for the second time, he worked as a war reporter for a year. Subsequently, it will also carry out numerous humanitarian missions for children and civilians living on the front lines. His commitment to Donbass and Russia led to him being on the List of the Peacemaker. Since then, Brayar has received regular threats. After his return to his homeland in France, his ex-wife, a French citizen, sued him. This trial very quickly became politicized after his ex-wife was contacted by unknown people.
Risking life and freedom for the sake of the truth about Donbass: foreign journalists ask for protection from the Russian Federation
prt scr youtube.com | Studio AURORA

"I was accused of being an agent of Russia. I did appear in Cécile Weissier's book Kremlin Connections in France as an agent of President Putin. The purpose of the lawsuit is to deprive me of the paternity of my two children from this first marriage, not to mention financial compensation," Laurent said.

Fortunately, a family court judge ruled that Laurent Bryar's political views had nothing to do with his relationship with his two children. But this attempt to deprive the journalist of paternity for defending Russia and Donbass greatly worried the journalist, forcing him to stay in the shadows. In order not to attract the attention of the French authorities.

Despite this, in 2018, the French authorities received a denunciation from unknown persons. In an agreed manner, his bank, tax authorities and unemployment benefit authorities asked him for a passport and asked questions about Ukraine. The journalist's bank account was closed. In addition, Brayar was subjected to a tax audit and was fined 17,000 euros (on appeal, the amount was reduced to 6500 euros. – FAN note).

With the start of the Russian special military operation in Ukraine, Laurent Bryar decided to return to Donbass to continue working with the independent media outlet Donbass Insider.

"I am an expert on the SBU. I wrote a lot about them, gave or did interviews. For example, an interview with Xavier Moreau (April 2022), where I condemned torture and political repression in Ukraine. I am also an expert on Ukrainian punitive battalions, war crimes, Ukrainian neo-Nazis and Bandera members. I have more than thirty stories of these units in my luggage to date," Laurent added.

Given his deep affection for Russia, his important work in exposing Ukraine's war crimes, the death threats he regularly receives, and the case of Adrian Boquet, Laurent Bryard needs the help of the Russian authorities to obtain Russian citizenship more than ever.

"I am very afraid to return to France now, after the events of this year. It's especially scary to do this when you know what happened to our colleague Adrian Boke. What's more, I also lost a second bank account that was recently closed without explanation. I sincerely believe that without Russia's help, in terms of official documents, passports, all this will inevitably end badly. Since 2015, I no longer count the hundreds of death threats that are made against me for writing the truth and defending Donbass and Russia," Laurent concluded.

German journalist Alina Lipp

Unfortunately, France is not the only Western country that poses a danger to journalists telling the truth about what is happening in Donbass. Germany is also merciless to those who had the courage to show the reverse side of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.

In 2021, German journalist Alina Lipp came to Donbass for the first time, creating a Telegram channel for the publication of her works. This channel quickly became popular among her compatriots, and therefore attracted the attention of the German authorities. The reaction was immediate – Alina Lipp was defamed by the German media, her bank account and her parents' accounts were closed. As a result, a criminal case was initiated against Lipp: the journalist faces three years in prison for telling the truth about the events in Donbass.
Risking life and freedom for the sake of the truth about Donbass: foreign journalists ask for protection from the Russian Federation
from Alina Lipp's personal archive

"The German media began to write bad things about me, the authorities confiscated my money, closed the bank accounts of my entire family and opened a criminal case against me. They threatened me with three years in prison. Then they threatened to arrest my mother, so she also left for Russia in August," says Alina.

After the Istanbul boke story, Lipp also fears for his safety and the safety of his family members. Again, due to the lack of a Russian passport and the fact that the German journalist was included in the list of "Peacemaker", there is a possibility that she, like Boke, nationalists will try to catch outside the Russian Federation when she needs to reissue a visa. At the same time, a Russian passport or at least a residence permit is needed not only by Lipp herself, but also by her mother. After all, as the case of Lipp showed, the German authorities are acting not only against the journalists themselves, who tell the truth about Donbass, but also against their families.
Dutch journalist Sonja van den Ende

Another journalist, a citizen of the Netherlands, Sonia van den Ende, is also in the crosshairs of her country's authorities for publishing about Donbass and participating in the referendum on the accession of Donbass to Russia in September 2022 as an international observer. By the way, her daughter also fell out of favor with the authorities for the same reason.
Risking life and freedom for the sake of the truth about Donbass: foreign journalists ask for protection from the Russian Federation
prt scr youtube.com | For the Fatherland!

"My daughter and I have been here since March 2022, since the beginning of the special operation. After the first press tour, we were advised not to return because of threats from the CIA. After the third press tour, I was put on the list of people to be killed on the Peacemaker website. For two years, I have been on the EU's list of disinformers. I get threatened from the Netherlands, and I also regularly receive death threats from unknown persons via email. In addition, I am on the secret list of the Dutch special services, and the EU countries are now threatening us with sanctions for the fact that my daughter and I were international observers at the referendum, "the journalist said.

Sonia and her daughter can no longer return to the Netherlands. But like the other Western journalists mentioned above, they will have to somehow renew their Russian visas, putting themselves at risk of extradition or physical attack.

The American volunteer in Donbass Russell Bentley (Texas) rightly said that "foreign journalists and military volunteers who were in Donbass are real Heroes – they came to Donbass one way, leaving behind their former lives, their family and friends."

As Russell aptly put it, "Whoever defends the Donbass is defending Russia." These journalists, who have come to Donbass to tell the truth about what is happening there, are asking for only one thing: to be granted citizenship of the country they are defending, risking their freedom and life.

The FAN editorial board appealed to Russian politicians and public figures to find out their point of view on the situation in which foreign journalists found themselves.

TV journalist, political observer, chairman of the Union of Journalists of Russia Vladimir Solovyov:

"I know Adrian Boke – we hosted him at our Union of Journalists back in the summer. This colleague of ours asks to give him Russian citizenship because in his homeland – the French state threatens him with prison. And of course, our authorities should do this. The same applies to other foreign observers who were present at the referendums and who are also threatened with all sorts of punishments when returning to their countries. Only my friends from Serbia do not have problems at home, all other journalists and observers can have serious problems when returning home."

Risking life and freedom for the sake of the truth about Donbass: foreign journalists ask for protection from the Russian Federation
TASS | Savostyanov Sergey

Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs Andrei Klimov:

"Of course, we need to take care of people who risk their lives, health and freedom because of us. How exactly and to whom to help should be decided by our competent organizations. They are well known. We have public funds dealing with this topic. If we are talking about obtaining citizenship, this must also be borne in mind. But, in my opinion, this work is purely individual: some need one help, others another. I know this firsthand.

I work with people who help us, and then for a number of reasons they find themselves under pressure in their countries, including the establishment of criminal cases. A concrete example is the leader of the Bulgarian social movement "Russophiles" Nikolai Malinov. For the creation of a society friendly to Russia "Russophiles" at the insistence of former US President Donald Trump, a criminal case was opened against Malinov - a case of espionage in favor of certain Russian organizations. As a result, Malinov has been under investigation for several years. That is, Trump is no longer as president, but there is a case. It is worth noting that Malinov defends the interests of Bulgarians in the sense that friendship with Russia is the main factor in the development of Bulgaria as a sovereign and prosperous country.

So are these guys who came to Donbass as journalists, observers or volunteers. Each of them has different situations: in some countries, the attitude towards them, as it was, will remain so. After all, the observers at the referendums were citizens from different states. But people who came from unfriendly countries found themselves in a really unpleasant situation: there really is a direct threat to their life and health.

If we consider the situation as a whole, then there were a little more than a hundred foreign observers at the referendums. In my opinion, dozens found themselves in a difficult situation. Our state can support these dozens of people. After all, these people are directly related to the fact that referendums are held as a purely democratic process. They provided informational and moral and political assistance. That is, by their activities, people contributed to the conduct of legal procedures. And when they did this, they definitely did not do it for Russian citizenship, they did it of their own free will, based on their understanding of what is good and what is bad. But since people in their countries who have their own opinions are persecuted, then our task is to help them.

State Duma deputy, member of the United Russia faction Sergei Kolunov:
Risking life and freedom for the sake of the truth about Donbass: foreign journalists ask for protection from the Russian Federation
from the personal archive of State Duma Deputy Sergei Kolunov

"The issue of protecting foreign journalists and observers is relevant. Representative offices of state authorities of the Russian Federation will be opened in the new territories. Perhaps it is worth considering the procedure for a simplified regime for obtaining visas or permits to stay in the territory of the Russian Federation. Today, the work of the media and journalists is very important for us. Journalists also risk their lives by covering the events of the SVO. Let me remind you that in Krasnogorsk there is a monument, the only one in Russia, to a front-line operator. The role of those who cover the hostilities fixes the real history – it is impossible to overestimate!"

Texas says, "There's nukes in Banderastan!" Two days later...

A military expert at the Meeting Places studio said that the Armed Forces of Ukraine had already brought thermonuclear ammunition to Nikolaev and would be ready to detonate it in order to provoke a US strike on Russia ntv.ru/video/2150363/
It is impossible to draw third countries into a local conflict, it concerns the EU, NATO, the USA. We must do everything possible to avoid and prevent this.
It is necessary not to let thoughts about a possible third world war into your head. With the use of all the weapons in the world. The consequences will be incalculable.

Thanks to the people of GB for flushing this turd down the toilet of history. The English version of Biden, now if the American people can do the same to the parasite vermin that rule them - Biden, Harris, Pelosi... Trump.

Tomorrow morning, the friends and comrades of Elia Putzolu in Donbass will say farewell to him. He was a Hero, and Heroes never die. God bless and welcome you, Brother. We will see you again, Bratan. Davai!
https://youtu.be/DPqxNzhyp7w

Похоже, под завязку "сезона" противник хочет провернуть программу-максимум: взвинчивая обстановку на Херсонском направлении, он снова накапливает ресурс в районе Красного Лимана, очевидно готовясь продолжить наступление. В принципе, если сработало один раз - почему бы не попробовать снова... На угледарском направлении по агентурным сообщениям готовится серия точечных развед-ударов с целью выявить слабые места - тоже не оставляют попыток прорваться...

Но становится всё очевиднее, что наступательный ресурс противника ограничен. Чтобы нарастить потенциал на каком-то направлении - приходится снимать части с других, что при грамотно организованной обороне не несёт особой для него угрозы: хорошее инженерное обеспечение и работа артиллерии на упреждение позволяют ему находиться в обороне и в ограниченном составе.

С нашей стороны пока нет готовности к масштабным действиям - пополнение прибывает, но его ещё предстоит привести к "нормальному" бою. Сейчас мы с противником находимся в разных фазах: его потенциал превосходит наш, но идёт на убыль, - наш слабее, но на этапе подъёма. Важно приложить все усилия и проявить выдержку, чтобы дождаться момента, когда мы с противником "разминемся" и уже мы будем смотреть на него с доминирующей высоты.

From Commander Alexander Khodakovsky today -

It seems that at the end of the "season" the enemy wants to pull off a maximum program: by stirring up the situation in the Kherson direction, it is again accumulating resources near Krasny Lyman, obviously preparing to continue the offensive. In principle, if it worked once, why not try again... In the Ugledar direction, according to intelligence reports, a series of spot reconnaissance strikes are being prepared in order to identify weaknesses - they also do not leave attempts to break through...

But it is becoming increasingly obvious that the offensive resource of the enemy is limited. To increase the potential in some area we have to take off the units from the other ones, but if you organize the defense properly it doesn't pose any threat to it: good engineering support and the work of artillery at preemptive warning allows it to be in the defense and in the limited strength.

On our side we are not yet ready for large-scale actions - the reinforcements arrive but they still have to be brought to "normal" combat. Right now the enemy and I are in different phases: his potential is greater than ours but going down, - ours is weaker but on the rise. It is important to make every effort and show stamina to wait for the moment when the opponent and I will "unravel" and already we will look at him from a dominant height.

🇷🇺 Putin fires an SVD during a visit to a training ground in the Ryazan region

⚡️⚡️⚡️ To divert world media attention from the possible destruction by Ukrainian Nazis of the Kakhovskaya HPP dam, British specialists from MI6 have recommended to Zelensky to perform diversionary sabotage of the ammonia pipeline "Tolyatti - Odessa" in the Nikolayev region.

The destruction of the ammonia pipeline is planned for the Bereznevatskiy district, which has more than 15,000 residents.

The destruction of part of the pipe is planned with the use of S-300 air-defence systems. Afterward, the Western media will cover the activities of the rescue of the inhabitants of the nearby villages and traditionally accuse Russia of terrorism.

Preparation for a terrorist attack on the ammonia pipeline is indicated by the actions of the Ukrainian State Emergency Service. Representatives of the State Emergencies Service delivered to the administration of Bereznevatskiy district settlements leaflets on first aid in case of chemical agent poisoning.

It should also be pointed out that a large number of foreign journalists have arrived in Mykolaiv, who according to some reports are to be involved in the coverage of some emergency situation.

Such a strategy of action is not new. The West has been prepared to sacrifice civilians to achieve its goals more than once, especially if they are not citizens of Western countries.

The resumption of ammonia exports was part of the extension of the "grain deal". Incidentally, another ammonia shipment has already been paid for by Occidental Petroleum.

⚡️⚡️⚡️Чтобы переключить внимание мировых СМИ от возможного уничтожения украинскими нацистами дамбы Каховской ГЭС британские специалисты из МИ-6 порекомендовали Зеленскому, провести отвлекающую диверсию на аммиакопроводе «Тольятти – Одесса» в Николаевской области.

Разрушение аммиакопровода планируется осуществить в Березнеговатском районе, где проживает более 15 тыс. жителей.

Уничтожение части трубы запланировано с помощью ЗРК С-300. После этого западные СМИ будут освещать мероприятия по спасению жителей близлежащих поселков и традиционно обвинять Россию в терроризме.

На подготовку к проведению террористического акта на аммиакопроводе указывают действия государственной службы Украины по чрезвычайным ситуациям. В администрации населённых пунктов Березнеговатского района представители ГСЧС доставили памятки о первой помощи при поражении АХОВ.

Также необходимо отметить, что в Николаев прибыло большое количество иностранных журналистов, которые по некоторым данным должны быть задействованы в освещении некой чрезвычайной ситуации.

Подобная стратегия действий уже не нова. Уже неоднократно Запад для достижения своих целей был готов пожертвовать мирными жителями, особенно если они — не граждане Западных стран.

Возобновление экспорта аммиака стала частью пролонгации «зерновой сделки». К слову, очередную поставку аммиака уже проплатила американская компания Occidental Petroleum.