• Denys Nykula@piefed.social
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    5 days ago

    No, I’m Ukrainian. It’s not people who talk about the bad apples that are discrediting the force, it’s the bad apples and those in the force who help them get away with it. There are very dark parts of our society that are unfortunately being whitewashed in the media, even made cult-like, especially for and by Western publications, as long as they have high military reputation. Some of them are fast-tracking neo-Nazis, such as the founder and head of 3rd corps Andrii Biletskyi, into politically respectable figures. Right-wingers who send death threats and do physical attacks on eco-activists, LGBT people, women and immigrants, get a free pass by joining military units, specifically 3rd corps, but not only. I brought the link to highlight how the media spin wing of 3rd corps gives positive publicity to people who do real evil shit. This isn’t isolated, people are just scared of talking about it.

    • Denys Nykula@piefed.social
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      5 days ago

      To read more about the background of Biletskyi, particularly about his promotion of racial cleansing and his article encouraging a “crusade against subhumanity lead by semites”: https://www.nihilist.li/2014/11/09/chto-nam-v-nih-ne-nravitsya-i-andrej-biletskij/

      That was from 2014, but more recently, in 2020, Biletskyi and his goons assaulted their own former affilitates (according to their lawyer) who have a reputation of not being far-right enough: https://texty.org.ua/fragments/100953/bileckyj-pobyv-kolyshnih-pobratymiv-za-pidtrymku-sternenka-advokat/

      This is the leader, a general. Imagine what lower-ranking soldiers get away with because of the lack of media scrutiny and international attention.

      • Cherry@piefed.social
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        5 days ago

        It probs needs its own post. I do feel corruption and cruel behaviour should be addressed. I am in full support of Ukraine and understand how much a story can damage morale.

        However washing over it or ignoring it does more damage.

        • Denys Nykula@piefed.social
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          4 days ago

          I think you’re right, there’s need for articles by investigative journalists specialized in European far-right networks research to counter the spin machine of 3rd corps (of which OP’s link is a blatant example). Both domestically and internationally. Unfortunately, this niche is currently void, as the most knowledgeable people formerly dedicated to antifascist journalism are busy in the military now. I encourage people to read the archives of Liva Sprava and Nihilist (if you know the languages), because these blogs were an excellent example of Ukrainians being critically honest about Ukrainian politics, which IMO is the real patriotism.