Bullets, Not Ballots in Donetsk: Russian Roulette (Dispatch 42)

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Almost 6 months after the Euromaidan revolution that toppled former president Viktor Yanukovych, Ukrainians went to the polls to elect a new president in the midst of an anti-terror operation to wrestle Donetsk and Lugansk oblasts back under Kiev's control.
The separatists of the Donetsk People's Republic openly threatened the election in the region and had stormed a number of electoral commissions and intimidated electoral workers. In response the Ukrainian military alongside its paramilitary proxies have been working to secure towns across Donetsk to ensure a safe election took place.
On Sunday morning as voting started across the country, Donetsk itself saw no voting take place so VICE News headed out to Krasnoarmiisk where voting was able to take place, under the watchful eye of local loyal-to-Kiev police and another paramilitary force, the Dinipro Battalion.
Back in Donetsk, supporters of the DPR held a rally in the square, denouncing the election and the other DPR bugbears, NATO, the Kiev 'junta' and the US. Despite the threats, the election did take place in a few towns across the region and the fact that it took place at all seemingly threatens the advertised control of the region by the DPR.
Watch all of VICE News' coverage of the conflict in Ukraine here: • VICE News: Ukraine Cov...
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[@Cambria358]

"We are peaceful"........."tell the others not to take anyone alive" Somethings wrong with those statements coming from the same party

[@PMDacpano]

Well, it's clearly visible in this video who were the calm, reasonable people from those who had immature pre-modern mentality.

[@Cambria358]

***** Im speaking only on what i quoted and what you're saying. You support the claim that they are peaceful but a man of the same party tells the soldiers to show no mercy. Thats an extreme contradiction

[@Cambria358]

***** That doesnt make it peaceful. Whether its right or wrong of them isnt in the issue, its the fact that being merciless is not peaceful whether they're doing it in defense or not, its not peaceful.

[@Cambria358]

***** You're confusing taking the initiative to establish peace, as being peaceful actions. Them trying to kill Pro Ukrainians is being done to establish peace, but that does not make the action of killing without mercy in itself, "peaceful". It would've been different if someone had said "all we seek is peace" then it would make sense that they wish to achieve this through the elimination of their enemy, but to say "we ARE peaceful" contradicts their actions and motivations.

[@setsuro.splice]

***** Wow, you are a funny one. Talk about double standards man! lol unbelievable! Here.... your idea of peaceful is quote "They are piecefull in a way that they are on defense. They did not invade other parts of country". (Peaceful btw) So to you, violence by defending is peaceful yes? So tell me... if the Ukrainian army kills separatists as you've mentioned in your previous post happened, isnt it peaceful because they too were defending their country and sovereignty? Its funny how you can tell others to apply the same standards when your logic is flawed

[@joearnold5836]

Stumbled back upon this absolute grade A fucking GEM of a series and am about to start it from number 1. I really hope this series gets preserved, or even put into a full DVD/collectors download/something format. This is hands down the best reporting I've ever seen in my life. So objective, real and raw it's unbelievable and I love how they talk to everyone. Soldiers from both sides, civilians, administrative people and everything in-between.

[@unmastered6154]

Best documentary I've seen. Follows literally every key event in the conflict

[@TheDudeMaaaan]

check out Roses have thorns too really good stuff there

[@kingvan7872]

So Donetsk and Crimea can have a referendum, but Ukraine cannot have a presidential election? Just let them have their election, then you could say you supported democracy.

[@kingvan7872]

Nathan Callidor There are some who say the same thing about the referendums, both sides are accusing each other of illegitimate practices. However one thing is certain if the people of the east wish to join Russia, then we need to make the transition as peaceful as possible.

[@kingvan7872]

sergioccs74 I'm not saying the Ukrainian government is all in the right either, I'm just saying that having an elected government no matter if it's bought or not is better than the provisional government that wasn't even elected by the people to begin with. Also it's the "Pro-Ukrainians" decision on whether or not they wish to participate. The "DPR" and the Pro-Russians consider themselves separate, so I don't know why they're need to involve themselves with this. Same goes for the "Pro-Ukrainians", if the people of the east wish to go with Russia then you have to respect their choice. There's no need for bloodshed.

[@martinbarba7689]

King Vangarh In the referendums the people massed around the pool sites...The same people ignored the presidential elections; meanwhile, the ukranian army bombs an airport; the private militia of akhmatov (donbass batallion and security guards from privatebank) "guard" the elections in few places. Obviously these elections means differently from a Kiev citizen than a southeastern citizen (iug-vostok)

[@kingvan7872]

Martin Barba You do make valid points. When a country is divided all sides are guilty of something. You have to forgive my bias, it's just humanity was so close to achieving peace. Ironically enough thinks of the Cold War, but now that balance has been off turn with the fall the Soviet Union. Ultimately I just don't want to see an entire nation fall apart, and its people divided. No country ever deserves this. We're still dealing with the demons of our previous civil war here in America.

[@kingvan7872]

sergioccs74 People can be overzealous with their opinions. However we all have the right to say what we wish no matter how intelligent or naiveté it may be. That right is yours, mine, and everyone's. I guess the best thing for people to do, is to do research on the cause they support and ultimately decide on Whether or not they are to follow it, because there are many people out there who will say anything in order to get what they want. History has shown us this many times. All one has to do was look to the "original fascists" of the 1930s and 1940s.

[@Prodigysportsman]

12:27 I love it when someone asks a direct, straightforward question that isn't a softball and these guys start proclaiming them "Provacateurs!" how civilized.

[@nemosafari3689]

Fantastic coverage. It's is amazing how you dont take sides and just report/document what is happening. It's how reporting should be.

[@DETSRC313]

Side note, but important. In my opinion, this has to be the "best KZbin video series" here by Vice that has ever been made/presented since the birth of such technology as KZbin. Being that in almost real-time, daily videos of actual "history in the making" can be viewed by a guy from Detroit, Michigan, USA, me. And how I'm able to follow such information through these videos that it makes one feel so invested and informed on this "history in the making" that's happening on the other side of the world is incredible. It's a beautiful thing how far us humans have come. PS. Thank you Vice for making that happen.

[@abstragento0087]

Good point the world becomes a university if u come to work

[@TheBlackB0X]

"Young man, please tell the others with you not to take anyone alive, destroy the fascist" - Said no sane person ever.

[@hamsterman32]

*correction-* Would have said most of the Slavic men who share the glory in victory over fascists not even 100 years back. History has a tendency to repeat itself if people aren't too careful, you know.

[@TheBlackB0X]

***** Your history is the one the fallen Soviet Union children feed you. You do realize the USSR fell apart right? You do realize many countries broke off from the USSR cause it sucked right? And you are trying to promote the same failed ideas that the losers who died and were remembered disgracefully world wide. Much like Al Quaeda training camps for children, they tell you Russia Russia Russia, while using the USA's invented internet, on a USA's invented computer, on a USA's invented software, on a USA's phone line on a USA's Invented Server, on a USA's invented jack. Russia gave the world nothing from its heart and soul that resembles a phone or positive to humanity but images of antiquated WW2/Cold War ICBM's and fossil katyusha rocket trucks which are older then sin. Oh and electricity? USA. Light bulbs? USA What does Russia have? Ak-47, Draganov and stolen data for a nuclear weapon, Should I say oh thank you Russia for making the world a better place with millions of assault rifles? Tell me something that someone invented from Russia that didn't flee or defect to the United States that benefited the world half as good as Electricity, Light, Computers, or the Internet. Oh wait I found one, Sputnik, that's it. Other then that, lots of guns and bombs : en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Russian_inventions

[@HarmonySMvideo]

TheBlackB0X not to be a dick ( i dont like Russia) but just for the fun of it. USA also invented World Bank, neoliberalism, IMF, War on Drugs (really war on racialized ppl), wars for natural resources. It supported dictators in Chile and Argentina (1000's killed and tortured), invented many drugs such as ACID), Chicago school of business: shock doctrine. Slavery (more then 10 000 000 ppl were displaced from Africa. and last but not least America killed off millions of native Americans (so called Indians), and ironically build a human rights museums on the land of the natives... so yeah... wana talk inventions and innovations... yeah.. if you want to be pissed at Russia be pissed at its ruling class, not the oppressed nation. cuz they do not know what they are doing.. p.s. ever heard of Mendeleev, Korolev, Tolstoy, Dostoevsky? man beauty will save the world.. not all of them are war mongering, antisemitic internet trolls.

[@hamsterman32]

TheBlackB0X Nu blaaayt. I am not even going to get into the AC vs. DC Power argument with you as you clearly have no comprehension of the world outside of your Americanized filter fed perception. So where do I begin? How about the FUCKING Periodic Table of Elements, caterpillar tracks, electrically-powered railway wagons, the radio, the helicopter, solar cells, transformers (for electricity), television, the world’s first grain harvester, the first space station, first artificial satellite, first spacesuit, first dogs in space, first man/woman in space, first walk in space, and the first to the moon (10 years before the largely disputed USA's first appearance). Also, how could you forget that the Soviets won 9/10 of the total of battles that ensued between Germany and the Allies. Meanwhile you have the USA propagating their hate and war throughout the planet making them the most universally hated country in the world. I would hate to know where you get your history from if you are citing wikipedia. Not even elementary schoolers in America are allowed to use that as a source, what a fucking joke!

[@TheBlackB0X]

Max Nafa Your historical view is skewed, As the Spanish conquistadors and many others dominated slavery.(Of the 10 to 16 million Africans who survived the voyage to the New World, over one-third landed in Brazil and between 60 and 70 percent ended up in Brazil or the sugar colonies of the Caribbean. Only 6 percent arrived in what is now the United States. Yet by 1860, approximately two thirds of all New World slaves lived in the American South. For a long time it was widely assumed that southern slavery was harsher and crueler than slavery in Latin America, where the Catholic church insisted that slaves had a right to marry, to seek relief from a cruel master, and to purchase their freedom. Spanish and Portuguese colonists were thought to be less tainted by racial prejudice than North Americans and Latin American slavery was believed to be less subject to the pressures of a competitive capitalist economy.) Go learn history please. And currently... www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/10/17/this-map-shows-where-the-worlds-30-million-slaves-live-there-are-60000-in-the-u-s/

[@IchKomentiereNur123]

Those chechens are a shame for all caucasians.

[@RainbowCrewPeople]

agreed

[@bastionaudio]

Think of like Klingons only 100% worse.

[@user-zr4rn4ik8p]

giorgi bitadze ты штоль грузин? нехуй осетинов обижать. съёбывались с обосраными штанами от спецназа да от пацанов 18-летних. чмыри недоделанные

[@GiorgiBitadZe]

***** its funny because they are fighting for devil called putler.

[@GiorgiBitadZe]

***** cool story bro, needs more dragons with lasers on their heads with putin riding a bear, would be more realistic than us bombing our own territory, u braindead deepshit.

[@DAVA653]

"voting has been a success" he said standing right in front of almost empty ballot boxes.

[@DAVA653]

***** Sure.

[@hamsterman32]

barely 60% of the country voted... -source for MsTbsd www.bloombergview.com/articles/2014-05-26/ukrainians-are-more-european-than-the-french

[@iaagg]

If you had an AK pointing at you from Donetsk people's republic "self defense forces" would you vote? Actually the turnout was amazing since all of Donetsk's voting stations were shut down by Russian backed Separatists. The average voter turnout for Ukraine from 1994-2007 was 68.13%. Ukraine still managed a 55% voter turnout, which was amazing in that it took such courage to even to show up to vote.

[@Adudethatlikesmusic]

***** the two parts of eastern ukraine don't even make up 40% of the country...also how do you expect an entire country to vote? even the whole of USA doesnt vote in elections, roughly half vote. plus that is ONE source, where are the rest from? i'm guessing from that lying propaganda RT news you probably read.

[@hamsterman32]

Adudethatlikesmusic you heard it yourself, here on VICE news dipshit.

[@ret1608]

I hope that my internet wife from Ukraine is doing ok.

[@chickenjoeboy]

You mean your now Russian mail order bride if she lives in Donetsk

[@chickenjoeboy]

Tijuana Pretty much. But I think I saw her in the video as a pro-russian so she must have escaped. It's ok I don't like Commi bastards :p

[@ret1608]

ooh well there is always those Asian online wifes. haha

[@chickenjoeboy]

Tijuana True...but they are into freaky stuff. Im not into an octopus sucking my balls hahah

[@ret1608]

Connor Williams HAHA.!

[@_Patronus_]

"To protect Russia..." Trust me bud, Russia has enough protection as is...

[@lazeppelini123]

Yeah, and it said chechen. Chechens do not fight for Russia. Rapists and murderers, I don't see people here.

[@rubenlopez3364]

Now they protect Russia by heading into gunfire without vests or modern rifles

[@onemustlivefree]

Well, this aged well. 😂

[@rustykid1285]

@@onemustlivefreeright😂

[@BotanixB]

Saying that don't want to live like slaves, under monument of Lenin. Hilarious

[@waddysoap4868]

What can I say?

[@tatianalyulkin410]

Yeah, but under a Nazi regime you just exchange Dzerzhinsky and Beria for Bandera and Shukhevich. In what galaxy far far away would this be considered an improvement?

[@AlternateHistoryHub]

Well I'm gonna call it. The Ukrainian Civil War has begun

[@LMvdB02]

Lmao your channel(s) blew up.

[@silversnakeproductions3241]

AlternateHistoryHub in the beginning the military could have easily stepped in. Then it went downhill from there

[@amyrallan897]

Well, funny to find you here

[@prometheusstalebornheinche9361]

It is a civil war, but there's nothing civil about it.

[@usranikrpelj1287]

Its russian agression

[@Sir_Stalwart]

One thing I've noticed watching these dispatches is that pro-russians do not like to be "provoked" and it dosn't take much to "provoke" them to a state of complete insanity...

[@avibhagan]

yeah,, did you see when then burnt the pro EU protesters to death ? No i did not see that either ! Did you see when the Pro Russians where killed by pro EU protesters ? lets not forget who is killing who !

[@haemse]

Just 100% stigma confirmation ... horrible for the people there - but somehow entertaining.

[@themightynail623]

Are you forgetting when the ukraine military opened fire on protesters showing discontent against their government? I think maybe killing a ton of civilians would warrant these actions

[@aldozilli1293]

Years of Putins propaganda machine. Brainwashed people.

[@Dan123a]

Because those people were sick and tired of being taken advantage of.

[@bdubflow]

Great job Vice News! Glad to see that this guy is still out there as well as the return of Simon. They are both good and now we get different perspectives!

[@wabbajeck]

Where's simon?

[@carpetfarmer]

They have more than one correspondent in order to cover both sides & more of the conflict. Plus, I doubt Simon O is very welcome (or safe) in Donetsk these days.

[@bastionaudio]

Simon are forced to stay at RS and NG place.

[@ludvigakesson6168]

''It's terrible when they have to fight to their death in times of peace'' Im getting more and more confused by the thought process for these people. They are sending soldiers to fight and call it times of peace?

[@ghos2277]

Regardless of my stance on this issue, I still feel sad knowing that a lot of the people we see here on the trucks are now dead.

[@oleof635]

not as much as dead Ukrainian soldiers literally they are Russia punching bag

[@UrKhalqiComrade49]

8:40 that is Rafie Jaffar, he is a Pashtun from Afghanistan whos father was murdered by the Mujahedeen, the Soviets took him in and gave him a education and stuff. Rafie lost his legs around 2015-2017 (I dont remember the exact date) but he is still alive and still working for the DNR

[@UrKhalqiComrade49]

9 years later he met Putin lol kzbin.info/www/bejne/lYG7dXx7nLGhnac

[@sweet93isme]

It's brutal because all I'm hearing in the mainstream media is that "everything is getting better" but for every dispatch I keep wondering how long that charade will hold

[@Guilherme1498]

The comment box on VICE's videos should be closed... All I see makes me feel ashamed to be the part of the human race.

[@bastionaudio]

Go fly to the moon.

[@Pm98448]

You shouldn't be ashamed, just understand that there are a ton of dummies out there

[@78ds]

А где, кстати, нашисты? Чё они ничего не пишут про чеченцев, которые приехали "защищать Россию, защищать русских, защищать интересы этой страны"?

[@RydFen]

Sviatoslav Korolevsky Мы люди в отчаянии, нас тут убивать приезжают!! Задумайтесь!! Мы тут не чаепития устраиваем!!! А со стороны Украины постоянно слышны в нашу сторону, угрозы нашей жизни!!

[@user-ii7kg5ij1b]

а что ты думал вам можно бомбить людей? пушками,авиацией и им никто не поможет?больше скажу и к тебе приедут и тебя в твоем же туалете утопят...сучий сын!что за блядская привычка у вас уповать? "мирные жители" "Чеченцы"то ваш аргумент на то что вы делаете в Славянске?в Одессе?.уже давно идет гражданская война блядь!

[@78ds]

Ну вот обосрались российские нацики и даже спецназовцы типа Гиркина на Донбассе, не получилось им создать боеспособную армию из местных алкоголиков и наркоманов, воевать это не магазины грабить, нормальные жители Донбасса, по признанию самого Стрелкова-Гиркина, их нахуй послали, поэтому теперь в дело вступили кадыровцы, которые держат в страхе мирное население Чечни, мало им оказалось убивать, грабить и пытать по приказу Кадырова чеченцев, теперь они будут убивать, грабить и пытать украинцев и русских на Донбассе.

[@user-ii7kg5ij1b]

Дмитрий Щёлоков вот смотрю на твою рожу...и удивляюсь как ты можешь говорить о ком то что он обосрался?однако аэропорт у так называемых "террористов" до сих пор!

[@user-yg3up7if4z]

Дмитрий Щёлоков ты реально маразматик))

[@Lukas962C]

lol :D chechens fighting for russians i am in tears HAHAHAHA so how much did they paid them.

[@deni6386]

they sold their soul.. as a chechen im so ashamed of the... traitors

[@axelmagana405]

They do it for the motherland ✊🏼🤙🏼

[@muri4298]

@@axelmagana405 wtf are you smoking

[@user-jd8wo8fd9p]

fucking bastards they should be fighting the russians

[@vurkzy8432]

@@deni6386 based

[@JerryNeutron]

How exactly are you independent if you want to be controlled by a dictator?

[@JerryNeutron]

***** Putin obviously

[@Nikolay_Grigoryev]

Your very confused... They are trying to establish a federal government. What does that mean? Currently Kiev appoints the governors of each region(in Donetsk they appointed Serhiy Taruta, an oligarch). They want to be able to elect their own governors and have more say about what happens to taxes collected from their regions.

[@AvNotasian]

Nikolay Grigoryev Yeah that sounds all well and good but be aware that would be a strategic loss for Ukraine as Russia would have power to meddle in internal affairs. Also on the tax issue the region receives more in subsidies than it pays in taxes. www.pewglobal.org/2014/05/08/despite-concerns-about-governance-ukrainians-want-to-remain-one-country/

[@scp129]

Nikolay Grigoryev Yeah, I'm going to go with no.

[@Nikolay_Grigoryev]

***** wow what a great counter argument.

[@Tjockisen]

This reporter looks exactly like a shorter Stephen Merchant at times, from certain angles. :D

[@staygreezy]

I love how everyone's calling each other fascists, It's similar to how if a conflict broke out in the west we'd be calling everyone "terrorists"

[@axelmagana405]

Very true

[@CRSStories]

You see my grandma lived in Donbas, she didn't have access to Ukrainian television, and so do most donbas people, so they think that Ukraine is the bad guys, cant blame them

[@recon6725]

Why is nobody commenting that the troops featured in the parade aren't Ukrainian Russians or Russians at all but Chechens, Chechens from the personal battalions of Putin's right-hand man in Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov.

[@PhoenixKDIX]

Why are all the dogs Vice shows so fucking cute? These don't look like stray dogs and they look like they're groomed better than the people that own them. I don't understand it but I really appreciate the good-looking dogs. Point for Vice.

[@TouchOfGrey24]

man, that lady at 10:46 should win an Academy Award for that performance

[@chihuahuaverde425]

Vice, thanks for the updates.

[@TheSpooky130]

Can someone inform me what factions are fighting and what those factions are want? I'm struggling to follow along.

[@dlow53]

Donbass batallion is a citizen's batallion form from that area that has a majority Russian but they're pro-Ukraine. They form because they felt that the Ukraine military wasn't doing enough. you'll notice them by Ukraine color ribbons they carried. And obviously you the Separatist (pro-Russians) who carry the orange and black ribbon. now from this video it is obvious that you have a bunch of mercenaries from the caucuses. So that's something to look at.

[@TheSpooky130]

dlow53 Thank you so much, I appreciate it.

[@MegaMosh101]

You keep using that "junta" word. I don't think it means what you think it means.

[@rtyfdfa32]

illegitimate government*

[@MegaMosh101]

dafer adget Nope, it's a military group that runs the country after taking it by force. But even if it did mean "illegitimate government", Ukraine's current government does not qualify.

[@TurboF-17]

dafer adget Like the Donetsk Republic. Not recognized by anybody even Russia is trying to wash it's hands of them. Junta is actually a territory taken over by a military force. Like the Donetsk Republic.

[@ipotatis]

Could someone please explain this situation? Which groups are presented in this video and who and what are they fighting for. This is my first dispatch that ive watched on this matter and im quite confused.

[@kazkaskazkas8689]

12:15 - "prime minister", Borodai, a Russian citizen from Moscow, later became a member of state duma 8:40 - separatist battalion of "local people" from Chechnya (those younger ones with masks were probably regular Russian army) coming in to 'protect Russia' before even a sham of a referendum has taken place 🤦🏻‍♂️ 10:15 - the lady giving the emotional speech in the name of local people is 100% not from around there, not even the part of Russia next to Ukraine. Sounds like Moscow accent to me. Believe me, all Russian speaker from Donbas region have a very distinct speech. The interests are clear in retrospect.

[@MrTropics64]

Great reporting from Harry Langston of Vice News. Stay safe.

[@muri4298]

Saddest thing is these people pass their stupidity on to their children.

[@opex9979]

Don’t worry this was happening in Ukraine since it’s creation in 1920

[@Jetwinner02]

@@opex9979 Cope harder Ruzzian bot

[@opex9979]

@@Jetwinner02 xoxol spok

[@SuperCyberSoldier2]

Stop attacking Vice News (probably the most objective news site I know) it makes you look bad.

[@Thor.Jorgensen]

Pro-Russians in the comment sections are attacking any news station that isn't Kremlin funded. You will see the same on Al Jazeera, BBC, CNN, Sky News, Euronews, France 24, Channel NewsAsia and many more. There will always be an unusually large group of people speaking against the news channels.

[@bastionaudio]

How about ANNA news ?

[@NoXoNaToR]

Amen Brother... Vice is kickin' some serious ass! VICE>everyone else

[@Thor.Jorgensen]

олег бурдин ANNA is located in Abkhazia, a land where Russia does not allow EUMM to enter, it is considered to be occupied by Russian military world wide and uses the Russian ruble as their official currency. How is that country, including its news station not Kremlin controlled?

[@ftwman7644]

after 26.05 dispatch 43 is gonna be a bloody mess

[@TangyyyOrange]

Best way to protest against a vote you don't agree with is by not protesting and convincing others not to protest by using social media or just talking to people and telling them why they shouldn't vote. The worst way to protest against a vote is to force people not to vote, exactly like what the separatists are doing.

[@Stratosfear.]

“Best way to protest is to not protest and tell everyone you know not to protest”

[@cepxuo67]

Спасибо за отличный репортаж!

[@abjectpermanence5279]

I'm just praying Vice knows that this guy is very, very close to the danger.

[@reanimationeas342]

He was probably well aware but stood by his journalistic integrity

[@egidijussinkevicius860]

These so called separatists aren't regulars, they are well trained soldiers. From what was described at and showed prior to that: 2:10, these are "special operation forces" soldiers that tried to take over a post.

[@melissalisaandrean6803]

Lots of them (older one) are veteran from the afghan war. Also Ukraine have a mandatory military service. So it is not strange for them to act like a well trained soldier.

[@zlonewolf]

@ melissa the chechens are Kadryrovs paid Wagner pro-Russian militias. Obviously a staged Russian take over.

[@aldozilli1293]

Exactly, vast majority are Russian military pretending to be separatists.

[@sluxi]

@@melissalisaandrean6803 Pretty obvious the chechens are not local. Also highly doubt they had anything to do with afghanistan. Kadyrovites.

[@kazkaskazkas8689]

12:15 - "prime minister", a Russian citizen from Moscow, later became a member of state duma 8:40 - separatist battalion of "local people" from Chechnya and other places (those younger ones hiding their faces were probably more directly related to regular Russian army) coming in to 'protect Russia' before even a sham of a referendum has taken place 🤦🏻‍♂️ 10:15 - the lady given the emotional speech in the name of local people is 100% not from around there, not even the part of Russia next to Ukraine. Sounds like Moscow accent to me. Believe me, all Russian speaker from Donbas region have a very distinct speech. It's like trying to pass a Californian for a New Yorker. The democracy in the DPR kicked in quickly and came "from the people" 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@iKafkaF]

0:07 pretty much sums it all up: *you wanted the terrorists to destroy ur own army, but the army has destroyed your Kadyrov's thugs in Donetsk*

[@arthurstefanski1300]

What happened to the RT narrative that there were no Chechens from Russia?

[@Bladeofwar94]

The situation in Ukraine seems very similar to the American Civil War in terms of ideals. The south-East feels underrepresented and the west feels that the south-east is still part of their country.

[@kazkaskazkas8689]

Except that these were not locals: 12:15 - "prime minister", Borodai, a Russian citizen from Moscow, later became a member of state duma 8:40 - separatist battalion of "local people" from Chechnya coming in to 'protect Russia' before even a sham of a referendum has taken place 🤦🏻‍♂️ 10:15 - the lady given the emotional speech in the name of local people is 100% not from around there, not even the part of Russia next to Ukraine. Sounds like Moscow accent to me. Believe me, all Russian speaker from Donbas region have a very distinct speech. The democracy in the DPR kicked in quickly and came "from the people" 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@chelharosh7951]

They call us fascists, but THEY are behaving like fascists

[@donnacollins1356]

Why you putting something from 7 years ago in the mix

[@InayetHadi]

The West needs to support the Chechen people against the oppression of the Russians.

[@ank9368]

10:34 она наверное сейчас весьма рада :)

[@yuriiboiko4759]

Не удивлюсь если эта псина в Киеве живёт сейчас.

[@Mitkls]

There is a technical mistake in subtitles at 10:21 - "Novorossiya" instead of "New Russia" will be more likely

[@RPBtoday]

Did I just witness the birth of the infamous Tik Tok Battalion? Wow. this is history

[@Sphynra]

I'm guessing the people that keep saying how there's Blackwater soldiers everywhere on Kiev's side don't have any comment to offer about the Afghans and Chechens

[@ericragnar3069]

Sphynra not afghans. Chechens. They are afghan war veterans.

[@Mike_hunt01]

That was a great looking jeep xj, too bad it was used in war

[@ttykv]

Word "Дамбас" in russian sounds like "dumb ass!" =D

[@Advise012]

There are a lot of dumb asses, who want in Russia.

[@urugvaeczhir4521]

Advise012 and there are several millions of lazy, stupid and aggressive Ukrainians, who the fuck do not need Europe

[@Advise012]

urugvaec zhir Aggresive?Fuck, man. Thats dumb asses from Donbas shot there people. If they hate Ukraine, get the fuck out from here.

[@jayflavor1]

it is actually "донбасс". Works either way

[@tobiasakerberg3720]

What i found kind of interesting is that throughout the reporting from the eastern Ukraine, some of the pro-russian militias seem to be not only coming from Russia, but - as briefly seen in this clip - from Chechnya. That's a bit surprising, considering chechnyan rebels success in fighting the Russians (they we're eventually "subdued" in the 2000s, but during the first Chechen war in the mid-1990s, they held out agains everything Russia threw against them), in beating the heck out of Russian ground troups. Now, those Chechnyans were quite inspired by their islamic faith, and that's probably why they could pull off what they did/do but...what are Chechen fighters doing in eastern Ukraine, fighting with PRO-Russian forces? I mean, the "regular" pro-Russian paramilitaries formed in Chechnya during the first and second Chechen wars were almost obliverated overnight by Chechen separatists, so...what camps are they're coming from here when they say they're "veterans from Chechnya"? The "tone" among those semi-independent republics in southern Russia is quite a bit ANTI-russian. It would be interesting to know more about where those came from, and if they're vetereans from the first or second Chechen wars; if they're actually Russians who fought in Chechnya (not "chechnyan nationals", so to speak). So far we havn't seen religion playing any part in the Ukraine, and i sincerely hope it doesn't get there. Worst-case scenario would be the Ukraine government having to fight an increasing number of Chechen veterans - they really shouldn't stand a chance. But, as said, Ukraine can hardly be compared with Chechnya in that respect. Regarding the "nazi"-discussion everyone's calling everyone here. Look at the websites of some of the parties that have been part of the interim Kiev governemt until the elections. Their party-logos ("nordic" "hammer"-symbols and "semi-swasticas of own design" etc embedded in Ukraine's colors, together with their very extreme nationalist party manifestos (not exactly the maidan pro-EU message, even if they ofcourse were a part of that movement toothough they were a large part of that) doesn't bother anyone? I'm not saying the Kiev interim government have been a fascist one, but this is the kind of opportunity when fascist and ultra right-wing parties flourishes. And the extreme right has always been very strong in parts of the Ukraine (much more so than in other former Russian sattelite republics) ever since it declared itself independent when the USSR fell apart.

[@ProbablyNotLegit]

To me it sounded more like they were pro Donbas separatism rather than russian occupation, which could make sense I suppose

[@gipsybulldog3286]

@@ProbablyNotLegit they were pro russians

[@ProbablyNotLegit]

@@gipsybulldog3286 I don't disagree. I'm playing Devils advocate now, but I'm remembering chechnya - we should allow separatist states to declare as such (subject to oversight)

[@ProbablyNotLegit]

@@gipsybulldog3286 as I said, I'm not sure they were necessarily pro-RU to begin with, but yes now they are pro-Russian... after all, who gave them the guns?

[@aldozilli1293]

Because Putin paid and pays off Kadyrov to keep Chechnya subdued. Kadyrov returns favour by sending his Chechen troops to cause havoc in Ukraine as favourto Putin. Putin has been sending 'disguised' troops/pretend militia and equipment such as heavy armoured vehicles since 2014. This whole mess leads back to Putin.

[@MercenaryBlackWaterz]

Pro- Russians hating on VICE tells me VICE is doing something good, keep up the good work.

[@phoneonphonehard2844]

Harry, breaking out those CSI daytime tele training. Nice

[@phoneonphonehard2844]

I mean Henry... Not Harry

[@SilentMystAnon]

The buildng behind him at 5:30, theres a building model that looks exactly like that in arma 3.

[@onefineday2006]

12:25 - russian accent he is a foreigner here

[@komradematt8025]

love re-watching the orcs faun over their "heros" and seeing the reality of russian world xD

[@ethirion3534]

I think Henry langston is doing a very good job. Now that he grew some hair in his face he doesn't look so young anymore. Keep on doing what you're doing. I like it.

[@Vasco1Silva]

Ruslan it was the guy talking with the president this days that was kiddnapped by the russian army or the donbass rebels. He was exchanged by 10 russian soldiers. Anyone's watching this in 2022?

[@iamaGod357]

I don't like this new British reporter, he never talks to any soldiers and has no charisma

[@bastionaudio]

At least he highlight situation in South-East well enough.

[@fffgrehn]

hes pretty good. you are just spoiled because of simon ;)

[@Adirondack13]

Without this guy we wouldn't have video from the RU-separatist front, he's there while simon is shadowing the Ukranian fighters. Obviously because simon's truths make the RU-separatists real butt hurt and he isnt welcome. It clashes with the propaganda being fed into their brain en masse and fucks with their wiring. Russians cant handle hard truths, i've never seen so much butt hurt on any other vice series. Also I dont think this guy can speak russian, simon could, which is what got him into so much trouble.

[@user-mu1oj1sk8r]

новсти двойных стандартов, и сплошные манипуляции непрофессионально

[@onefineday2006]

это вы про первый канал?

[@Sanuria11]

В. Оноприенко Лучше уж так,чем ваш ТСН.Такой-то трэш.

[@onefineday2006]

Ирина Лунина что такое ТСН и почему он мой?

[@Sanuria11]

В. Оноприенко Да я вообще пшечка,мне же можно.Хочу-говорю.Вы еще тюрские слова запретите-это же слова оккупантов!Маразм не гоните.Моё личное право говорить так,как я хочу.Анша Абдуль,что в России,в отличии от Украины есть свобода.

[@onefineday2006]

Ирина Лунина Oh. Now i See how it works. Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience

[@reanimationeas342]

The beginning reminds me of a CSI episode

[@SABLATOR]

на 12:45 на локте у бородоча, что за знак?

[@willkummer2639]

Telling you how to live? Its an election you get to decide.....

[@ChaimkeProductions]

Hey vice. just to say please stop zooming in on corpses and bodies all the time. we understand its neccesary to show us what is going on, but you guys really overdo it, needlesly zooming in on corpses constantly.

[@bartoszrost]

Yeah but this is reporting, and many know that a lot of evidence can be fabricated. So in order to prove people were killed they need to show the bodies. Also they have a warning at the beginning of the video for those who don't want to see things like that.

[@astros441]

It kinda makes what happened more real to people, and the consequneces that are behind what is happening. Its more impactful thus they are doing their job as reporters

[@Arctorkovich]

War is hell, fucking deal with it by confronting yourself or just put on the blinders like most people.

[@Adirondack13]

Graphic content warning in the beginning. Man up to the reality or dont watch it.

[@Millsfilpy]

Adirondack13 Frankly I think it's a bit disrespectful to the body though. I don't think I would like the world and maybe even my family seeing my mangled corpse left alone in some alley as some camera man zooms in real close for the beauty shot.

[@NemtYT]

They complain about being attacked after they've taken up arms against their country's government. Where on Earth is armed insurrection legal? Where does it go unpunished?

[@kazkaskazkas8689]

Well, most of the work has been done by the "locals" from elsewhere. Here are only a few out of many details: 12:15 - "prime minister", Borodai, a Russian citizen from Moscow, later became a member of state duma 8:40 - separatist battalion of "local people" from Chechnya (those younger ones with masks were probably regular Russian army) coming in to 'protect Russia' before even a sham of a referendum has taken place 🤦🏻‍♂️ 10:15 - the lady giving the emotional speech in the name of local people is 100% not from around there, not even the part of Russia next to Ukraine. Sounds like Moscow accent to me. Believe me, all Russian speaker from Donbas region have a very distinct speech. The interests are quite clear in retrospect.

[@EPaalomaar]

They sent a giant Q-Tip to report 😂

[@spaghettilives5106]

Yo dog, I heard you like ambushes, so I ambushed yo ambush!

[@kronhertz4956]

11:15 and onward: I'm not okay with this.... Akhmetov has the right to support for, whoever he wants to support. These people have no right to punish him for this personal view or seize his assets. This goes completely contradictory for everything they fought for; against fascism. I also notice the separatist are extremely touchy about the reporters asking questions and doing their job. Her questions are nowhere near provocative...Perhaps these people are afraid of hearing the truth?

[@tatianalyulkin410]

Did you ever bother to research how many Russian reporters were beaten and killed by the Loyalists? I have a friend- Graham Phillips, a British reporter. He was arrested by the Loyalists twice. The second time they tortured his Rebel translator and friend in front of him and threatened to kill him if he ever comes back. We used to be friends but he just cannot tolerate anything even remotely Ukrainian. And I happen to be a moderate sane Ukrainian nationalist. They turned a man who loved and cherished everything Ukrainian into someone who loathes everything about it. I repeat- there are two sides to a civil war and there are no heroes and no Boy Scouts.

[@Jeff9691]

the fact that these people would rather join Russia rather then just fix their own country is astounding.. so many people in this world fight for independence, these people are fighting to become someone else's problem... total stupidity

[@Antoha0102]

"I don't think they would never be prepared for something like this" That sentence reached a new level of stupidity. When you put yourself out in the front, out of your own will, against other people with firearms, what do you think would happend? Magic and sunshine where people talk things out?

[@TwoFistsOneHalleluja]

Well i guess that they at least expected the pro-russian to not execute the ones who surrender. Guess they didn't realize that they were fighting against the worst kind of fascist scum from Russia.

[@johns.7609]

He's speaking to the difference between trained soldiers and simple patriots who have nothing left to do but fight. The latter does not automatically equate to being prepared to face automatic gunfire, RPGs, or Molotov cocktails. There's a decent chance that this was the first and last firefight for many people.

[@nathanlennox9411]

He's right, they weren't prepared. The pro-Russian (less polite names I could've used here) militia attacked them, heavily overpowering the Donbass, more weapons, ordinance, and people. To top it all off, they couldn't even approach the Donbass in a civil damn matter, they ambushed them. The Donbass thought they were fighting against confused rebels, not savages. You saw the first attack scene, the guy in the car shot up? Henry's right, they were point-fucking-blank, it's inhuman...

[@dmitryshevchenko349]

In the very end of the video the reporter is like well " I kinda just showed them that nobody gives a fuck about these elections here and out of two candidates Poroshenko and Timoshenko the first one gets 55%." It's like having to choose between the Bush junior and his father, and what's the % of the population voted? His deer in the headlights stare is just priceless when he blurs out " so that makes the DPR illegitimate because they didn't vote neither for the tycoon nor for the woman that publicly summoned to kill Russians"

[@W3irish]

There is some handsome women in eastern ukraine...red glasses particularly sticks out in my mind

[@scepticsquirrel]

10:36 One of the most passionate traitors in history we can ever encounter :D She is ready to drop tears for marauders and adventurers. Thinks it is as easy as a video game to revolt and destroy the normal order of life.

[@kazkaskazkas8689]

They're not traitors, the lady giving the emotional speech in the name of local people is 100% not from that region, her accent sounds like straight from Moscow. Russian speakers from Donbas have very distinct speech. It's like trying to pass a Californian for a native of Brooklyn.

[@Northstar.metaverse]

WTF? how many groups of people are there? Im kinda having trouble keeping up.

[@mailmeonline]

Yes, the traditional wasting of the bullets by shooting them in the air

[@BernieBerns]

Also theirs a reason that most countries use blanks when they have funeral ceremonies. Something that comes up, must come down.

[@Snakenoob7]

You know the funny thing is that Russia is more conservative than Ukraine and Russians call the Ukrainians fascists (Ultra-Right wing). while Petro Poroshenko (President Elect) was part of the Ukrainian Social democratic party until 2001 (now independent), and Arseniy Yatsenyuk (Prime Minister) is a libertarian (Conservative Liberal).

[@Snakenoob7]

Well Batkivshchyna (party that Yatsenyuk is member of) says its a conservative liberal party.

[@Unbrutal_Rawr]

Snakenoob7 Maybe it has something to do with the couple of openly nationalistic parties directly involved with the interim government, and not really with how conservative the country in general or its PM in particular is? I mean, what does conservatism have to do with this at all?

[@user-fm6ne3rm3d]

Ипать я и незнал что в Донецке столько чеченских шахтеров живет.

[@PMDacpano]

It's clear in this video who were those driven by reason and etiquette from those who were driven by rage and impulses.

[@theeasthmatic786]

GLORY TO UKRAINE!

[@retner3716]

Glory to Heroes!

[@reanimationeas342]

Slava Ukraine

[@FPSdaybreaK]

12:47 has a nazi tattoo on the elbow. irony.

[@inkomar]

Actually, it’s not. The Kolovrat symbol is much older than the NSDAP.

[@alexlikerikkegodteri]

10:07 damn

[@BorisBARSTubeti]

I really don't understand who is fighting who and why??? It seems to me that they've been fed with different food(info). Please explain !

[@brasilsoccer0]

How in earth did he and everyone here missed the Chechen fighters part?!?! Those people have the reputation of being the toughest warriors in Russia! If they are defending eastern Ukraine, Ukraine is in a lot of trouble!!! These guys grow up fighting under oppression of Russia!

[@kazkaskazkas8689]

Well, not that tough when the war is not hybrid, it turns out - they've been f*cked up in Ukraine. Came in with such a great reputation, but somehow we stopped hearing about them after a while. Same will happen to the Wagner thugs.

[@Rascalndear1]

Just to clarify one point mentioned in this clip at 05:32. I saw the video of the two people shot on the pseudo-referndum day, May 11. Those were clearly NOT Ukrainian forces, first of all, because they were not in uniform, some were in half-camo with t-shirts and masks. Secondly, whoever they were, they were not directly shooting at anybody, just firing warning shots into the air but one man apparently shot into the ground, which ricocheted and killed someone standing by, because the victim was shot in the back of the nek, although he was facing the men with guns. A second man was shot in the leg because he tried to wrest the gun from one of those men and had a knife in his other hand.

[@igor196017]

Правильно сказал мусульманин - Мы сюда приехали защищать РОССИЮ - это главная мысль всех террористов на Донбассе. А местные наивно верят что они пришли защищать их от мифических фашистов. А к Ахметову в дом побоялись зайти. Видно поняли что могут нарваться на грубость.

[@2468whodoweappreciate]

whoah

[@jakatom]

The donbas battalion :) Are these the guys, who attacked a police station a few episodes ago?...threatening the police at gun-point. I mean, how can they really be called the "donbas battalion", when they clearly state they are comprised from people of west Ukraine.

[@uegvdczuVF]

LOL U are right. Best thing in this episode was when at 4:30 reporter says that they got attacked (and had shit kicked out of them) - while attacking a separatist checkpoint...

[@TwoFistsOneHalleluja]

Pure propaganda. 1/ They are mostly local people. 2/ They took that Police Station back from the separatists who took it from the real Police some days before.

[@isotropisch82]

It seems to me that Ukraine should give up on any desire to bring the "people's republics" back into Ukraine, and offer a population exchange for anyone in Ukraine that wants to live there and is not living in other parts of Ukraine. Even if they are retaken by Ukraine, they will cause nothing but trouble. I suspect the same goes for Crimea.

[@Jetwinner02]

Keep saying that troll

[@isotropisch82]

@@Jetwinner02 Troll?

[@natanfevrier2367]

@@Jetwinner02 you feel trolled by logical thinking?

[@owenthomas5103]

The goal for Putin was always to conquer the whole of Ukraine and then move onto the next nation he feels entitled to own. Giving him any land is just a staging post for him to send milita to the next bit of land so he can create excuses why he should have that to.

[@Ryan-kw2cl]

Sick voice crack at 3:19 lol

[@antonrusinov5088]

12:58 that's Zakharchenko defending Ahmetov's residency? fck up lol

[@oregonsbragia]

It's amazing how the so called "rebels" just a few weeks into their rebellion somehow already all had perfectly matching uniforms, and the same guns, and armored personel carriers. None of those guys are from the Donetsk. The one even says he is from Chechnya. This is a Russian invasion.

[@Faram1]

Your not very smart are you

[@kurvitaschthedictator]

Perfectly matching uniforms? Doubt. We saw a blend of Russian uniforms, Ukrainian army surplus, everyone's favourite American camouflage, and stuff you'd order from China

[@loliatti7104]

Same uniforms?? Nah, pretty mixed.

[@user-rj4gu5oh3k]

Those were militia’s my guy and they were volunteers from Kardov’s Chechnya Russia and DPR itself that wasn’t a Russian invasion lmfao and all of them have different guns only same thing is they are soviet or old af

[@Crouchy232323]

Well done VICE. It is clear how you are framing this situation and for who but by acknowledging that there is more than one voice you bring legitimacy to your reports. You are learning, as witnessed by the dropping of the term ''pro-Russian separatists''. Subtle means are what is required of you.

[@Adirondack13]

What of their coined term is incorrect? These people want to seperate and join russia. Dumbass.

[@Crouchy232323]

Is that why they voted to become an independent Republic? No mention of Russia. You believe they have picked up arms purely and solely for the benefit of Russia? Even when VICE drop the term (if it was an appropriate term why would they?) you have heard it so many times previously it doesn't matter whether it's true or it isn't. The seed has already been sown. What is so difficult to understand? You have validated my point though about them learning and using their platform more effectively so thanks for that, I guess. I won't return the insult. It's not needed. Although you do appear to need someone to point out the obvious to you so that could change.

[@lexazver]

There were like 10 polling stations opened which created the image of mass vote....yes, some people did vote, but they were like 10%,20% max.... and holding a a referendum while armed thugs are roaming around doesn't sound very legitimate.

[@Crouchy232323]

lexazver Probably because it isn't.

[@Amateur7_2]

lexazver I know it's saneless to start KZbin comments quarrel, but I can't help it to ask whether it is legitimate to start president elections while armed thugs are roamig around south-eastern part of the country or not. Thanks

[@markroell5455]

Where is Simon Ostrovsky? I want him to do this reporting.

[@jamakasis18]

Warnings of graphic content. A sign of a good video.

[@MrRAk1N]

i love how vice bring us real news, but the content can be a bit too graphic so time :(

[@user-jd8wo8fd9p]

you were adequately warned at the beginning of the video

[@benaskutko4737]

@@user-jd8wo8fd9p Well hello here, what news do you have from Ichkeria?

[@user-jd8wo8fd9p]

@@benaskutko4737 i am not chechen, so i wouldn't know.

[@Foolishdog5888]

Glory to Ukraine From 🇺🇸🇺🇦🇨🇦🇬🇧 We will help you!!! Unfortunately we can not give aid to Azov due to its ties with far right extremists. Nevertheless we will support you. Love and respect.