“I lived quite well during Ukrainian rule and I live well now.”

As fiercely pro Rus or pro Ukr voices dominate debate, outside distinctly pro Russian cities like Donetsk and Mariupol, this young man’s perspective may even be the most prominent in the ‘four regions.’

▶️ People in Mariupol want peace not Ukrainian ‘liberation’

@johnnyjamesmiller reports from Donbass.

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“Where is that Ukraine? It no longer exists. They are fascists.”

How many times can these Donbass lady’s apartment block be hit, and they still don’t leave the frontline areas? They seem to be impervious to the terror of artillery. I spoke to them a few days ago.

I’ve spent enough time in Donbass and on the frontlines to know that people here and most Russian soldiers, care more about Ukrainian soldiers than NATO policy makers do. #counteroffensive #proxywar

There is an historic hatred of Russia in British elite society which plays into the misguided and self defeating policy on Ukraine. Irrational and racist hatred leads to disastrous policy.

▶️ Press TV Correspondent in Donetsk, @JohnnyJamesMiller, says Kiev’s counteroffensive has been unsuccessful until now, and their frontline assaults have not yet succeeded.

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A lot more people and cars on the streets of Donestk than a few months ago, as people are returning. Shelling of the centre has died down so much that parents are even brave enough to take their kids out. Ukraine focussing on counter offensive? Will it last?

“I do not want to go to war, as I do not want to kill my brothers.”

This aid worker I met on the Crimean border explains one of the reasons we see so many forced mobilisation videos in Ukraine and why so many are trying to flee the country.

Pro-Russian population along frontiers facing horror of Ukrainian forces

Next to the war in Ukraine. With the country’s much-talked-about counter-offensive against Russia faltering, stories are coming out about the horror that civilians are facing around the frontlines.

Press TV's @johnnyjamesmiller reports from Donbas

Read here

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▶️ Press TV's @johnnyjamesmiller says in case of a possible attack on the Russian mainland with Western-made weapons, Moscow may consider the producers of these weapons, specially the US and the UK, as the parties to the conflict.

@PressTV - #UkraineWar

While pro-Ukrs flee West from the fighting, those who remain are seen as pro-Rus by Ukr soldiers. In the lawless, vengeful hellscape of frontline combat, it can mean death. Especially with the many extremists in Ukrainian ranks.

“They cannot be called people. They are killers.”

At a press conference in Donbass this week, Anna gives a chilling account of her last days in Bakhmut.

“If we had to retreat. We wouldn’t leave anything or anybody behind us. We hate Donbass.”

This woman I interviewed a few months ago, says Ukrainian soldiers told her this. Many refugees don’t show their faces in fear of reprisals.

“There was a couple working at the meat factory and the woman was pregnant but the snipers shot both of them in the back.”

Snipers shooting civilians is a common allegation.

These ladies tell me that Ukraine is responsible for much of the shelling. This is a very common allegation from survivors and refugees.

While Russia has clearly caused widespread destruction across the frontlines leading to the death of a large number of civilians. The crimes by Ukrainian soldiers against those they see as pro-Russian are being massively under reported. They deserve attention.

“For one word you can be beaten up… there is no freedom of thought there.”

Away from the front lines it’s also incredibly dangerous for people seen as pro Russian. I spoke to this man, from West Ukraine, as he escaped over the Crimean border.