Russia Attacks Ukraine - 23 Feb 2022 #9
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Darya Dugina: Daughter of Putin ally killed in Moscow blast
Darya Dugina died in car bombing that may have targeted her father, philosopher Alexander Dugin.
www.bbc.com
The daughter of a close ally to Russia's President Vladimir Putin has reportedly been killed near Moscow.
According to state media, Darya Dugina died after her car exploded in flames while she was driving home.
It is thought that her father, the Russian philosopher Alexander Dugin who is known as "Putin's brain," may have been the intended target of the attack.
The philosopher's daughter, Darya Dugina, was herself a prominent journalist who vocally supported the invasion of Ukraine.
Earlier this year she was sanctioned by US and UK authorities, who accused the 30-year-old of contributing to online "disinformation" in relation to Russia's invasion.
In May, she described the war as a "clash of civilisations" in an interview and expressed pride in the fact that both she and her father had been sanctioned by the West.
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It'll be interesting to see who the Russians blame and what the intelligence community has to say.Darya Dugina: Daughter of Putin ally killed in Moscow blast
Darya Dugina died in car bombing that may have targeted her father, philosopher Alexander Dugin.
The daughter of a close ally to Russia's President Vladimir Putin has reportedly been killed near Moscow.
According to state media, Darya Dugina died after her car exploded in flames while she was driving home.
It is thought that her father, the Russian philosopher Alexander Dugin who is known as "Putin's brain," may have been the intended target of the attack.
The philosopher's daughter, Darya Dugina, was herself a prominent journalist who vocally supported the invasion of Ukraine.
Earlier this year she was sanctioned by US and UK authorities, who accused the 30-year-old of contributing to online "disinformation" in relation to Russia's invasion.
In May, she described the war as a "clash of civilisations" in an interview and expressed pride in the fact that both she and her father had been sanctioned by the West.
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rbbm.
www.bbc.com
Darya Dugina was vocal in her support for the Russian government over the invasion of Ukraine
Alexander Dugin is credited with shaping President Vladimir Putin's worldview
''The pair were due to leave the venue in the same car, before Mr Dugin reportedly made a decision at the last minute to travel separately.''
''Footage posted on Telegram appears to show Mr Dugin watching in shock as emergency services arrive at the scene of the burning wreck of a vehicle.
Investigators confirmed that Ms Dugina, who was driving the car, died at the scene near the village of Bolshiye Vyazemy.
They said an explosive device planted under the car went off and the vehicle caught fire. Forensic and explosive experts are investigating.
A Ukrainian official has dismissed accusations of Ukrainian involvement in the incident.
"Ukraine, of course, has nothing to do with this, because we are not a criminal state, which is the Russian Federation, and even less a terrorist state," said Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to President Volodymyr Zelensky.''
''Attention will now turn to who was behind this attack. Denis Pushilin, the "head" of the self-declared pro-Russian "Donetsk People's Republic", has already laid the blame on Ukraine, writing on Telegram: "Vile villains! The terrorists of the Ukrainian regime, trying to eliminate Alexander Dugin, blew up his daughter… In a car. We cherish the memory of Daria, she is a real Russian girl!"
Incidents like this will make officials in Moscow nervous, especially in the aftermath of a series of explosions and attacks in occupied Crimea and in Russian regions near the border with Ukraine.
Kremlin propaganda consistently stresses how Vladimir Putin has brought security and stability in Russia following the turbulent 1990s, when car bombs and assassinations were commonplace. This car bomb in the Russian capital undermines that narrative.''
Darya Dugina: Daughter of Putin ally killed in Moscow blast
Darya Dugina died in car bombing that may have targeted her father, philosopher Alexander Dugin.
www.bbc.com
Darya Dugina was vocal in her support for the Russian government over the invasion of Ukraine
Alexander Dugin is credited with shaping President Vladimir Putin's worldview
''The pair were due to leave the venue in the same car, before Mr Dugin reportedly made a decision at the last minute to travel separately.''
''Footage posted on Telegram appears to show Mr Dugin watching in shock as emergency services arrive at the scene of the burning wreck of a vehicle.
Investigators confirmed that Ms Dugina, who was driving the car, died at the scene near the village of Bolshiye Vyazemy.
They said an explosive device planted under the car went off and the vehicle caught fire. Forensic and explosive experts are investigating.
A Ukrainian official has dismissed accusations of Ukrainian involvement in the incident.
"Ukraine, of course, has nothing to do with this, because we are not a criminal state, which is the Russian Federation, and even less a terrorist state," said Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to President Volodymyr Zelensky.''
''Analysis
By Will Vernon, BBC Moscow''Attention will now turn to who was behind this attack. Denis Pushilin, the "head" of the self-declared pro-Russian "Donetsk People's Republic", has already laid the blame on Ukraine, writing on Telegram: "Vile villains! The terrorists of the Ukrainian regime, trying to eliminate Alexander Dugin, blew up his daughter… In a car. We cherish the memory of Daria, she is a real Russian girl!"
Incidents like this will make officials in Moscow nervous, especially in the aftermath of a series of explosions and attacks in occupied Crimea and in Russian regions near the border with Ukraine.
Kremlin propaganda consistently stresses how Vladimir Putin has brought security and stability in Russia following the turbulent 1990s, when car bombs and assassinations were commonplace. This car bomb in the Russian capital undermines that narrative.''
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Sorry double post but just came across this..
Aug 22 2022 rbbm.
www.thestar.com
''MOSCOW (AP) — Russia’s top counterintelligence agency on Monday blamed Ukrainian spy agencies have organized the killing of the daughter of a Russian nationalist ideologue.
Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), the main KGB successor agency, said that the killing of Darya Dugina has been “prepared and perpetrated by the Ukrainian special services.”
''It charged that the killing was perpetrated by a Ukrainian citizen, who left Russia for Estonia after the killing.
The FSB said that the suspect, Natalya Vovk, rented an apartment in the building where Dugina lived and shadowed her. Vovk and her daughter were at a nationalist festival, which Alexander Dugin and his daughter attended just before the killing.''
www.wgem.com
''The FSB said that the suspect, Natalya Vovk, arrived in Russia in July with her 12-year-old daughter and rented an apartment in the building where Dugina lived to shadow her. It said that Vovk and her daughter were at a nationalist festival, which Alexander Dugin and his daughter attended just before the killing.
The agency said that Vovk and her daughter left Russia for Estonia after Dugina’s killing, using a different vehicle license plate on their way out of the country.''
Aug 22 2022 rbbm.
Russia’s FSB blames Ukrainian intelligence for car bombing
MOSCOW (AP) — Russia’s top counterintelligence agency on Monday blamed Ukrainian spy agencies have organized the killing of the daughter of a Russian nationalist ideologue.
Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), the main KGB successor agency, said that the killing of Darya Dugina has been “prepared and perpetrated by the Ukrainian special services.”
''It charged that the killing was perpetrated by a Ukrainian citizen, who left Russia for Estonia after the killing.
The FSB said that the suspect, Natalya Vovk, rented an apartment in the building where Dugina lived and shadowed her. Vovk and her daughter were at a nationalist festival, which Alexander Dugin and his daughter attended just before the killing.''
Russia blames Ukraine for nationalist’s car bombing death
Russia’s Federal Security Service, the main KGB successor agency, said that the killing of Darya Dugina has been “prepared and perpetrated by the Ukrainian special services.”
The agency said that Vovk and her daughter left Russia for Estonia after Dugina’s killing, using a different vehicle license plate on their way out of the country.''
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I wonder who Putin thinks is behind this? Does he trust the FSB? It is certainly likely that there are different factions inside the FSB. And seriously doubt that much of the Army is truly on board with this war.Sorry double post but just came across this..
Aug 22 2022 rbbm.
''MOSCOW (AP) — Russia’s top counterintelligence agency on Monday blamed Ukrainian spy agencies have organized the killing of the daughter of a Russian nationalist ideologue.Russia’s FSB blames Ukrainian intelligence for car bombing
MOSCOW (AP) — Russia’s top counterintelligence agency on Monday blamed Ukrainian spy agencies have organized the killing of the daughter of a Russian nationalist ideologue.
Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), the main KGB successor agency, said that the killing of Darya Dugina has been “prepared and perpetrated by the Ukrainian special services.”
''It charged that the killing was perpetrated by a Ukrainian citizen, who left Russia for Estonia after the killing.
The FSB said that the suspect, Natalya Vovk, rented an apartment in the building where Dugina lived and shadowed her. Vovk and her daughter were at a nationalist festival, which Alexander Dugin and his daughter attended just before the killing.''
''The FSB said that the suspect, Natalya Vovk, arrived in Russia in July with her 12-year-old daughter and rented an apartment in the building where Dugina lived to shadow her. It said that Vovk and her daughter were at a nationalist festival, which Alexander Dugin and his daughter attended just before the killing.Russia blames Ukraine for nationalist’s car bombing death
Russia’s Federal Security Service, the main KGB successor agency, said that the killing of Darya Dugina has been “prepared and perpetrated by the Ukrainian special services.”
The agency said that Vovk and her daughter left Russia for Estonia after Dugina’s killing, using a different vehicle license plate on their way out of the country.''
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AUG 22, 2022
US: Russia looks to step up hits on Ukraine infrastructure
The U.S. State Department has issued a security alert warning that Russia is stepping up efforts to launch strikes against Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure and government facilities.
apnews.com
The new intelligence comes as Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine will hit the six-month mark Wednesday, which coincides with Ukraine’s independence day from Soviet Union rule.
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On eve of Ukraine's national day, fears Russia will pounce
On the eve of Ukraine's independence day and the half-year mark of Russia's invasion of its neighbor, there was increasing unease in the country on Tuesday that Moscow could be centering on specific government and civilian targets during the holiday.
''KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — On the eve of Ukraine's independence day and the half-year mark of Russia's invasion of its neighbor, there was increasing unease in the country on Tuesday that Moscow could be centering on specific government and civilian targets during the holiday.
The United States reinforced those concerns when its embassy in Kyiv issued a security alert, saying it “has information that Russia is stepping up efforts to launch strikes against Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure and government facilities in the coming days.”
Over the weekend, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy already sensed a threat coming when he said in his daily address that “we should be aware that this week Russia may try to do something particularly nasty, something particularly cruel.”
The warnings come on the heels of Russia's claim that Ukrainian intelligence was responsible for the car bombing that killed the daughter of a leading right-wing Russian political thinker over the weekend. Ukraine denied involvement.''
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''At least 22 people were killed and dozens were wounded on Wednesday when Russian rockets hit a Ukrainian town and set a passenger train on fire, as the nation marked 31 years since its independence from Moscow-dominated Soviet rule.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had on Tuesday warned of the risk of "repugnant Russian provocations" on Ukraine's independence day, which by chance was also six months since Russian forces invaded Ukraine, touching off Europe's most devastating conflict since the Second World War.
In a video address to the United Nations Security Council, Zelenskyy said the rockets had hit a train in the town of Chaplyne, some 145 kilometres west of Russian-occupied Donetsk in Eastern Ukraine. Four carriages were on fire, he said.''
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''News of the Chaplyne strikes surfaced shortly before Zelensky was scheduled to appear virtually at a meeting of the U.N. Security Council. Addressing the room full of diplomats, including representatives from Russia, Zelensky denounced the latest round of shelling.
“This is our life every day,” he said. “This is how Russia got prepared for this U.N. session.”
www.theguardian.com
3m ago04.04
Ukraine’s armed forces said that “several” explosions were heard in the Vyshgorod district around 3am on Thursday, a district north of the city centre, in an alert issued via its official Telegram account.
The head of the Kyiv regional military administration, Oleksiy Kuleba, also issued a Telegram update, saying:
According to Ukraine’s emergency services, an air raid alert was issued throughout the region at 3.21am.''
“This is our life every day,” he said. “This is how Russia got prepared for this U.N. session.”
Russia-Ukraine war: Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant temporarily disconnected from grid; death toll from Russian strike on rail station rises to 25 – as it happened
Power line restored after plant occupied by Russian troops taken off national grid for several hours; toll confirmed after Russian forces attack train station
''Explosions heard in Kyiv region - reports
Ukrainian officials are reporting explosions near Kyiv early this morning .Ukraine’s armed forces said that “several” explosions were heard in the Vyshgorod district around 3am on Thursday, a district north of the city centre, in an alert issued via its official Telegram account.
The head of the Kyiv regional military administration, Oleksiy Kuleba, also issued a Telegram update, saying:
Kuleba urged resident to seek shelter immediately.
According to Ukraine’s emergency services, an air raid alert was issued throughout the region at 3.21am.''
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Russian beachgoer's shirtless photo gives away key Russian position
Online journalists geolocate photo to a beachside city in Crimea
''An unsuspecting tourist wound up giving away a key Russian military position after he posted a bare chested beach photo online.
In it, the man, barely contained in a Speedo, poses in front of Russia’s “active” S-400 air defense systems.''
''The photo gave away a key Russian position that online journalists geolocated to a beachside city in Crimea. Russian forces were seen travelling in the area on July 20, News.com.au reported.''
''Earlier this month, Ukraine issued a word of caution to Russian tourists that still flock to occupied territories near the Black Sea.
“Unless they want an unpleasantly hot summer break, we advise our valued russian guests not to visit Ukrainian Crimea,” the government tweeted.''
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I’m curious about who’s behind the killing of Darya Dugina… of course first thought was Ukrainian actors, but it would be a strange move. If Ukraine can operate that deep in Russian territory, why would they choose her of all people?
There was early reporting that real target was her father Alexander Dugin, a writer of political theory … he’ss well-known, but apparently much more so in the West than in Russia. Not exactly who you’d think Ukraine would go for tho ok maybe .. it makes more sense than targeting his daughter at least.
But then they say Dugin was in trouble recently for criticizing Russia / Putin / the war / some other wrongthink. So possible Russian motive makes more sense than whatever Ukrainian motive…
And then Russia came out with a whole story about the supposed assailant… a Ukrainian woman who moved (with her child) into Darya Dugina’s building in July to tail & eventually murder…. errrr… the daughter of a Russian writer with no political office or role ?? Huh
Wonder if we’ll ever know
There was early reporting that real target was her father Alexander Dugin, a writer of political theory … he’ss well-known, but apparently much more so in the West than in Russia. Not exactly who you’d think Ukraine would go for tho ok maybe .. it makes more sense than targeting his daughter at least.
But then they say Dugin was in trouble recently for criticizing Russia / Putin / the war / some other wrongthink. So possible Russian motive makes more sense than whatever Ukrainian motive…
And then Russia came out with a whole story about the supposed assailant… a Ukrainian woman who moved (with her child) into Darya Dugina’s building in July to tail & eventually murder…. errrr… the daughter of a Russian writer with no political office or role ?? Huh
Wonder if we’ll ever know
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David Wu August 25, 2022 - rbbm.
www.skynews.com.au
''Director of Strategy, Technology and Arms Control William Alberque from the International Institute for Strategic Studies believes there is trouble within the Kremlin following the death of the 29-year-old political analyst and commentator.
"I know Russia is going to blame Ukraine for this (Dugina's death) up and down. But honestly, this looks like a power struggle within Moscow," he told Sky News Australia.
He then went on to suggest that would be Putin's "worst nightmare" because it remains unclear who would take over as Russian President in an unfortunate event.''
www.newsweek.com
''As uncertainty continues to surround the killing of Darya Dugina, the daughter of an influential ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, many have floated the possibility that Putin himself may have been behind the blast that killed her.''
''Her father, 60, has been credited with being a key architect of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.''
''Tom Tugendhat, a British member of Parliament, suggested that Putin may have targeted Dugin over recent criticisms made against the Kremlin.
Could Russia's FSB be linked to Dugina's death? Newsweek asked a couple of experts to weigh in on the matter and to break down existing claims.''
''Ruslan Trad, a security researcher at the U.S. think tank Atlantic Council, told Newsweek it is evident that the murder of Dugina "created a wave of needed anger" in Russia, now six months into its war against neighboring Ukraine.
"Dugin is now mostly a symbol, not an instrument for the state. His role in the creation of the current Kremlin mythology for Eurasia and the so-called 'Russian world' has already ended and he can be sacrificed," Trad said. "Currently, the Russian army needs victories, a patriotic flame."
The Russian state and its proxies already use murder for political purposes, he said.''
Putin's 'worst nightmare' could become reality after death of ally's daughter
A well-experienced researcher believes the recent assassination of the daughter of a prominent Vladimir Putin ally could lead to a power struggle within Russia.
www.skynews.com.au
"I know Russia is going to blame Ukraine for this (Dugina's death) up and down. But honestly, this looks like a power struggle within Moscow," he told Sky News Australia.
He then went on to suggest that would be Putin's "worst nightmare" because it remains unclear who would take over as Russian President in an unfortunate event.''
Could Putin's FSB Be Linked to Dugin's Daughter's Killing?
The Kremlin's version of Darya Dugina's assassination is "absolutely out of the scale of plausibility," an expert told Newsweek.
www.newsweek.com
''Her father, 60, has been credited with being a key architect of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.''
''Tom Tugendhat, a British member of Parliament, suggested that Putin may have targeted Dugin over recent criticisms made against the Kremlin.
Could Russia's FSB be linked to Dugina's death? Newsweek asked a couple of experts to weigh in on the matter and to break down existing claims.''
''Ruslan Trad, a security researcher at the U.S. think tank Atlantic Council, told Newsweek it is evident that the murder of Dugina "created a wave of needed anger" in Russia, now six months into its war against neighboring Ukraine.
"Dugin is now mostly a symbol, not an instrument for the state. His role in the creation of the current Kremlin mythology for Eurasia and the so-called 'Russian world' has already ended and he can be sacrificed," Trad said. "Currently, the Russian army needs victories, a patriotic flame."
The Russian state and its proxies already use murder for political purposes, he said.''
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Aug 26 '22
globalnews.ca
''The world narrowly escaped a radiation disaster when electricity to Europe’s largest nuclear power plant was cut for hours, Ukraine’s president said, urging international bodies to act faster to force Russian troops to vacate the site.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russian shelling on Thursday had sparked fires in the ash pits of a nearby coal power station that disconnected the Zaporizhzhia plant from the power grid. A Russian official said Ukraine was to blame.''
August 26, 2022 5:42AM EDT
''A spokesman for Canada's foreign affairs minister says new sanctions against a Russian official will make her a "global pariah."
Adrien Blanchard says the economic penalties against Maria Lvova-Belova are meant to "isolate her and hold her accountable for her crimes."
Lvova-Belova is Russia's children's rights commissioner.
But Global Affairs alleges she is also the architect of a scheme to abduct Ukrainian children and facilitate their adoption into Russian homes.
Thousands of kids have been transported to Russia from the self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Luhansk in the months since the war began.''
www.thedailybeast.com
June 20 2022
www.theguardian.com
World narrowly avoided nuclear disaster with Ukraine plant losing power: Zelenskyy - National | Globalnews.ca
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russian shelling had sparked fires in the ash pits of a nearby coal power station that disconnected the Zaporizhzhia plant from the power grid.
globalnews.ca
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russian shelling on Thursday had sparked fires in the ash pits of a nearby coal power station that disconnected the Zaporizhzhia plant from the power grid. A Russian official said Ukraine was to blame.''
August 26, 2022 5:42AM EDT
''A spokesman for Canada's foreign affairs minister says new sanctions against a Russian official will make her a "global pariah."
Adrien Blanchard says the economic penalties against Maria Lvova-Belova are meant to "isolate her and hold her accountable for her crimes."
Lvova-Belova is Russia's children's rights commissioner.
But Global Affairs alleges she is also the architect of a scheme to abduct Ukrainian children and facilitate their adoption into Russian homes.
Thousands of kids have been transported to Russia from the self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Luhansk in the months since the war began.''
Putin’s Advocate for Child Welfare Is Stealing Kids in Ukraine, U.K. Says
Maria Lvova-Belova has been portrayed as a hero in Russia for supposedly ‘saving’ kids in Ukraine’s war-ravaged Donbas. But she’s having them ‘violently’ kidnapped, the U.K. says.
''Putin’s Advocate for Child Welfare Is Straight-Up Stealing Kids in Ukraine, U.K. Says''
UK aims sanctions at Russians accused of abducting Ukrainian children
Maria Lvova-Belova accused by Ukraine of organising capture of vulnerable children in Luhansk and Donetsk
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Lengthy article.
www.thestar.com
By Allan Woods Aug. 27, 2022
''In some cases, the Russian travellers hold multi-year visas issued prior to the conflict in Ukraine. In other cases, they have tourist visas issued by countries that have continued to process Russian applications despite the war.
However, the behaviour of some Russians while abroad risks wearing out the welcome for all of them.
“In some cases, they are quite aggressive, or aggressively expressing their sympathies and political ideas. It is an issue,” Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis told the Star.
“You can imagine how people feel in the Baltics when it comes to the letter Z (a symbol of support for the Russian military) or other symbols of Russian nationalism.”
Landsbergis said his government has not issued tourist visas to Russians since March. Next week, at an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers, he hopes to convince other European governments to follow suit.
He said that Russians come to Europe feeling “free and welcome to express and enjoy the liberties that the visa grants them, like freedom of speech.
“Well, I don’t believe that should be granted,” he said. “(Refusing visa applications) also sends a message to the Russian population that a certain period of self-reflection is needed. It’s not just going away, what their country is still involved in.”
Poland, Czech Republic, Finland and Denmark are among the European nations that have committed to restricting visa access for Russians. British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace told the BBC that the U.K. could “toughen up conditions” to avoid the prospect of “oligarchs’ wives enjoying themselves in Greece or the south of France, or on superyachts around the world while their army is committing war crimes in Ukraine.”
But the EU’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, said a total ban is the wrong way to go.
“More than 300,000 Russians have (fled) their country because they don’t want to live under the rule of Putin,” he said, according to Politico. “Are we going to close the door to these Russians? I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
Canada leaves door open to Russians after Ukraine invasion, issuing thousands of visas
Ukraine has called on Canada and other countries refuse to issue visas to almost all Russians, but critics say that could hurt those looking for a way out of Vladimir Putin’s regime.
''In some cases, the Russian travellers hold multi-year visas issued prior to the conflict in Ukraine. In other cases, they have tourist visas issued by countries that have continued to process Russian applications despite the war.
However, the behaviour of some Russians while abroad risks wearing out the welcome for all of them.
“In some cases, they are quite aggressive, or aggressively expressing their sympathies and political ideas. It is an issue,” Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis told the Star.
“You can imagine how people feel in the Baltics when it comes to the letter Z (a symbol of support for the Russian military) or other symbols of Russian nationalism.”
Landsbergis said his government has not issued tourist visas to Russians since March. Next week, at an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers, he hopes to convince other European governments to follow suit.
He said that Russians come to Europe feeling “free and welcome to express and enjoy the liberties that the visa grants them, like freedom of speech.
“Well, I don’t believe that should be granted,” he said. “(Refusing visa applications) also sends a message to the Russian population that a certain period of self-reflection is needed. It’s not just going away, what their country is still involved in.”
Poland, Czech Republic, Finland and Denmark are among the European nations that have committed to restricting visa access for Russians. British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace told the BBC that the U.K. could “toughen up conditions” to avoid the prospect of “oligarchs’ wives enjoying themselves in Greece or the south of France, or on superyachts around the world while their army is committing war crimes in Ukraine.”
But the EU’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, said a total ban is the wrong way to go.
“More than 300,000 Russians have (fled) their country because they don’t want to live under the rule of Putin,” he said, according to Politico. “Are we going to close the door to these Russians? I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
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