International news coverage of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has shown a predictably huge contrast in content and viewpoint. Press freedom or government control have been the determining factors in this wide difference in not only opinion but also facts.
We all know the chokehold with which the Kremlin strangles the media in Russia. “War” in reference to the war in Ukraine can only be used in a context such as: “The West started an economic war against Russia.” Or, “Facebook started an informational war without rules to Russia.”
The Russian online Gazeta.ru newsfeed very rarely mentions war casualties and Russian prisoners of wars. In fact, the Kremlin has stated that war casualty statistics can be mentioned only when the Defence Ministry so decides. On March 25, it admitted to 1,351 dead.
Western media had placed the total many thousands higher. NATO for one, has estimated that after four months the total could be as high as 15,000. In terms of the severity of human losses, compare this to the official Russian figure of 14,453 for fallen soldiers over the full 10-year span of its war in Afghanistan.
The use of any non-official numbers in describing casualties is a criminal offence. To comply with the law, they adhere to official statements. It’s evident that the Russian government prefers to keep silence on the topic.
But dead soldiers cannot be hidden forever. The families will be notified sooner or later. Human losses will eventually become the actual reality check and truth will be exposed.
Even though opinion polls in Russia are inaccurate for many reasons, Western observers still insist that they give a rough indication of the populations’ feelings of the war. Since the people are being grossly misled about the war, it’s no surprise that they’re supportive of the “special military operation” of which they are “proud”.
(Pikemalt saab lugeda Eesti Elu 24. juuni 2022 paber- ja PDF/digilehest)
