Ukraine Reveals Evidence of Russian Soldiers' Families Inciting Massacre of Civilians

by Lee Kimin

Published 21 Apr.2022 16:58(KST)

Russian Soldier-Mother Phone Tapping Content... "I'm Not Killing Civilians, I'm Killing Nazis"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] Evidence has emerged that families residing in Russia are inciting the massacre of civilians against their sons and husbands who have participated in the Ukraine war.

On the 19th (local time), according to the British daily The Times, Ukraine's intelligence agency, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), released on its website a wiretapped conversation between a Russian soldier who lost motivation during a military operation and his mother.

In the conversation, the soldier's mother said, "Son, don't be discouraged," adding, "Just by looking at what they (Ukrainian forces) are doing, you will realize that you are doing a great job there (in Ukraine). Don't forget this fact." The son responded, "What are we doing? Killing civilians and children?"

To this, the mother replied, "What you are doing is not killing civilians and children. You are killing those damn Nazis."

The SBU claimed that Russian media, using the 'denazification' justification for the Ukraine war, instilled in the soldier's mother the belief that the Russian military was conducting a legitimate operation.

The Times viewed this case as a successful example of Russian President Vladimir Putin's control over domestic media and public opinion.

So far, due to government propaganda and control, there have been almost no reliable public opinion polls, but based on a survey released early last month by the independent Russian polling organization 'Extreme Scam,' it was analyzed that older generations are more supportive of the war.

According to this survey conducted from February 28, the early days of the war, to last month’s 1st, targeting 1,640 Russians, only 34% of men aged 18 to 30, the age group likely to be sent to the front lines, supported the war. However, among women aged 41 to 55, this rate increased to 60%, and among women aged 66 and older, it rose to 74%. Additionally, 81% of men aged 56 to 65 were found to support the war.

Maximilian Hess, a Russia and Central Asia researcher at the U.S. think tank Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI), explained that the older Russian generation either personally experienced or heard stories related to the Soviet era when they fought against the Nazis during World War II, making them vulnerable to Russian propaganda claiming that "there are fascists in Ukraine."