Five Stories from the Invasion of the Ukraine you may not have seen

[rpannier]

1. By invading Ukraine, Putin loses allies in eastern Europe

PRAGUE (AP) — Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has shocked the former Soviet satellite states of Central and Eastern Europe, drawing strong condemnation even from the region’s most pro-Kremlin politicians.

For some of the countries that fled the Soviet bloc following a series of anti-communist revolutions more than 30 years ago, footage of tanks and troops rolling in to punish a nation trying to pursue its own independent course looks painfully familiar.

Two until now major pro-Russian voices in the European Union, Czech President Milos Zeman and Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban, didn’t mince their words in criticizing Moscow’s most aggressive action since the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979.

snip

“Russia attacked Ukraine this morning with military force,” Orban said in a video on Facebook. “Together with our European Union and NATO allies, we condemn Russia’s military action.”

https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-russia-hungary-prague-czech-republic-dfe9b03ce3553e899da79e4974fd93d7


2. Russian Government Orders Media Outlets To Delete Stories Referring To 'Invasion' Or 'Assault' On Ukraine

Russia’s media-monitoring agency Roskomnadzor has ordered media outlets to delete reports using the words “assault,” “invasion,” or “declaration of war” to describe Russia’s massive, unprovoked military incursion into neighboring Ukraine.

The agency said on February 26 that it had launched an investigation into the “dissemination of unreliable publicly significant information” against the independent newspaper Novaya gazeta, Ekho Moskvy, InoSMI, Mediazona, New Times, Dozhd, and other media outlets for their coverage of the war in Ukraine.

snip

About 100 Russian journalists, including a few from state media such as TASS and RT, have signed an open letter condemning "the military operation that Russia has started against Ukraine."

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In the first two days after the invasion of Ukraine began, Russian police detained more than 1,800 people in 60 cities for protesting against the war, according to OVD-Info, a nongovernmental organization that monitors political repression.

https://www.rferl.org/a/roskomnadzor-russia-delete-stories-invasion/31724838.html


3. 'Dark Hour': Council Of Europe Suspends Russia

The Council of Europe has suspended all representatives of Russia from participation in the pan-European rights body’s Committee of Ministers and its parliament over Moscow's attack on Ukraine.

The 47-nation Council of Europe announced the suspension on February 25, saying in a statement it decided to suspend the rights of representation of Russia from the committee and the assembly “with immediate effect.”

Council of Europe Secretary-General Marija Pejcinovic Buric described the attack on Ukraine as a "flagrant violation" of the statute of the Council of Europe and the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), which the body oversees.

https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-suspended-council-of-europe/31723783.html


4. Thousands Of Georgians Protest Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine

Thousands of people have rallied in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, calling for an end to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Huge crowds gathered outside the parliament buildings on February 25, and also called for the resignation of Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, who said his country would not join the West in sanctioning Moscow.

(video at link)
https://www.rferl.org/a/georgia-rally-ukraine-russia/31723871.html

5. Russia Barred From Eurovision Song Contest; Bolshoi Ballet In London Canceled

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) says no acts from Russia will be part of this year’s Eurovision Song Contest because of the country's invasion of Ukraine.

The union said in a statement on February 25 that the decision followed the recommendation by the Eurovision Song Contests’ governing body based on the rules of the event and the values of the EBU.

"In light of the unprecedented crisis in Ukraine, the inclusion of a Russian entry in this year's contest would bring the competition into disrepute,"the EBU statement said.

This year's finale is being held in Turin, Italy, on May 14. The annual musical pageant typically draws tens of millions of viewers across Europe and other parts of the world.

https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-banned-eurovision-bolshoi-ballet-canceled/31723793.html

[róisín_dubh]

1. Wow, Hungary made a statement...

Tucker Carlson mustn’t have received those instructions.

[rpannier]

4. I was surprised that some of the toadies at RT signed the letter

[multigraincracker]

2. One of the best

6. US Republican Party is being torn apart.

[Frustratedlady]

3. I heard part of an item on TV (MSNBC) this morning that one Russian platoon

backed out and said they didn't want to fight Ukrainians as they were friends/relatives.

Haven't heard a confirmation, but hopefully it is true.

[Wounded Bear]

6. There is a lot of 'cross-pollination' between Ukraine and Russia...nt

[crickets]

5. The Czech Republic, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Moldova all spoke out. Wow.

Suspension from the Council Of Europe is also a stunner. Thanks for these headlines, rpannier.