🧵 This is the picture the Kremlin wants you to see: thousands of people who support President Putin and the "special military operation" in Ukraine, crammed into Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. We went there today and talked to dozens of people who attended... 🧵
Many said they worked in the public sector (e.g. schoolteachers), and that they had been pressured into attending by their employers. One group of teachers, from a town near Moscow, were being told what to say to us by a woman who appeared to be from the local administration.
One man, who works in the Moscow metro, told us that he and other employees had been forced to attend the rally. "I'll be here for a while and then I'll leave… I think most people here don't support the war. I don't," he said.
In comparison to opposition rallies, most people didn't want to talk, be filmed or answer any questions. Some would cover their faces or put up their hoods when we said we are journalists. Many seemed embarrassed or ashamed to be there.
Students told us they had been given the option of a day off from lectures if they attended 'a concert.' Some of them didn't even know that the event was dedicated, in part, to support for Russian forces in Ukraine.
There were doubtless some people in attendance who genuinely support President Putin and the "special military operation in Ukraine", as the Kremlin prefers to call it.
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🧵 Reading through Z channels on Telegram - some thoughts from the pro-Kremlin military bloggers:
"A ceasefire - what for? The Ukrainians have already said they don't give a damn about Christmas, and they'll continue shelling. Are we going to just sit there and not return fire?"
"The ceasefire will be a disaster. This logic has never worked."
"The Commander-in-Chief [Putin] should celebrate Christmas in the trenches with the troops, who will be spending two days observing a unilateral ceasefire"
This is 'Novogodnii Chudo-Kvest', a kids' book of games, puzzles, colouring etc for New Year. Parents in Russia often buy their children these during the festive period. Except this year, something's a bit different... 🧵
There is a now a page dedicated to the army: "Our army stands up for us!" it says. Readers are told the Russian army is "strong & tough" and all soldiers are "ready to defend the Motherland." "No-one will ruin our New Year - not border violators, terrorists, smugglers nor spies!"
There is a quiz on the same page: "How many years do soldiers serve in the Russian army? What are Russian soldiers taught?"
The little ones are then invited to look at the pictures on the page and "Find 4 x Russian flags, 5 x walkie-talkies, 2 x pistols and 2 x machine guns"
🧵 Unsurprisingly, Russian state TV news bulletins this afternoon make no mention of the Ukrainian advance in Kherson. But channels are reporting the MOD’s earlier statement that said the military has completed what it called a ‘re-deployment’ of forces (that is, a retreat). 🧵👇
State TV presenters repeated the Defence Ministry’s claim that ‘not a single soldier’ or piece of military hardware was left behind during the withdrawal, reinforcing the message that this was a planned, organised re-deployment – as opposed to a frantic retreat.
State TV has been on-message re: the decision to leave Kherson. They tell the Russian public this was a difficult but unavoidable decision taken to save lives, that it was taken by the military, not the President - presumably to distance Putin from the controversial move.
🧵 The measures announced by President Putin today introduce martial law in the four occupied areas of Ukraine (Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson). However, martial law was already in place in these areas before Russia illegally annexed them on 30 September... 🧵
In fact, the most significant measures in the President’s new decree apply to the rest of Russia (plus annexed Crimea). The decree introduces three additional levels of heightened security...
The highest applies to annexed Crimea & border areas, eg Belgorod,Kursk,Krasnodar. This means more security, possible evacuation orders & some travel restrictions. More powers for regional authorities. They can establish territorial defence & mobilise the economy for war effort
Interesting developments in Russia:
Pres Putin has called a meeting of the powerful Security Council today to discuss “neutralisation of threats to nat security in migration; regulation of migration processes in the interests of socio-econ development & socio-political stability"
Russian media report that the Federation Council (upper house of parliament) has been summoned for an additional session at 1500 BST (1700 MSK), which could be connected to the Security Council meeting.
General Sergei Surovikin, commander of Russian forces in Ukraine, has said in an interview with Russian TV that the situation in Kherson Region is “tense,” “difficult”, the Russian army will assist civilians to leave areas of the region.
🧵 The official Telegram channel of the Russian Defence Ministry has reposted a claim that reports of civilian deaths in the town of Bucha are “fake”. Bucha was recently retaken by Ukrainian forces. 🧵
The report that was reposted by the MOD said articles on Bucha appeared “in several foreign media” simultaneously, “suggesting a planned media campaign.” The report says Rus forces left Bucha on 30 March: “where have these pictures been for 4 days? The absence confirms the fake”
The post claimed one video from Bucha shows signs of being faked. It says that during two points, the corpses in the footage move. BBC Moscow journalists watched the footage, including slowed down, and saw no evidence of movement from the bodies.