How a Ukrainian and a Russian follow the news

Contact with Tetjana Vasilets is erratic. The war takes all of her attention. NRC has asked her to keep a journal about the media she follows, but she is unable to send a message every day. When she starts her diary, the 30-year-old bank employee has just completed a two-day flight from Kiev to Koropets, a town in western Ukraine. She sometimes answers questions. In between she writes about her war life.

In Moscow Vasily Shabat (48) is unyielding about his task. Almost every day the owner of an advertising agency faithfully sends a message via Messenger or Telegram. It is not without risk that he gives his unadulterated opinion to a Western newspaper about the war in Ukraine. Russia passed a law last week that criminalizes spreading “fake news” about the Russian military. Anyone who violates this law faces up to 15 years in prison. Shabat doesn’t care, he says. “I do not care.” And: “I have a deep-seated appreciation for freedom of expression.”

Vasily Shabat, Moscow, Saturday, February 26

I have a WhatsApp group with former high school classmates. One wrote: “Whoever is in favor of this war is welcome to leave the group.” Two of the twenty members left. You can also see comments like this on Facebook. Supporters of the war seem to be in the minority, but are clearly visible.

The pro-war Telegram channels show videos of explosions, troops on the move and towns and villages being “liberated”. The tone of the videos is very violent. As if the people who respond enjoy revenge and death.

Years ago I stopped watching state propaganda. Through social media I see fragments of official speeches. Today I saw Vladimir Putin call Volodymyr Zelensky a neo-Nazi and a drug addict. Putin seems far removed from reality.

Vasily Shabat, Moscow, Sunday, February 27

Normally I listen to podcasts or music in the car. Today I tuned in to the liberal radio station Echo Moskvi (Echo of Moscow). This station is against the war. Since it has an official radio license, it must follow the official regulations. They prescribe that the ‘special operation’ against Ukraine should not be called a war by the media. Echo Moskvi follows this rule. But the way the channel reports shows what is actually going on in Ukraine.

Also read: Moscow’s banned radio station Echo was invaluable

Most listeners are against the war. They can call in and give their opinion. A girl called from Kiev. Her tearful, scared voice was heartbreaking. A veteran of the Russian army said a man who has been in power for too long started the war. An elderly lady claimed that Echo Moskvi is run out of Washington.

Vasily Shabat, Moscow, Monday, February 28

In the morning, social media is talking about the economic consequences of the sanctions. We try to estimate what the impact will be. Also, people are talking about the Ukrainian resistance, and how much respect it commands in the world, and from Russians.

I watched some videos of Vesti Nedeli (News of the week). This program can be seen on Russian state TV every Sunday. The boldness with which presenter Dmitri Kiselyov reiterated Putin’s threat to use nuclear weapons is horrifying. It is written on Facebook that as Putin loses his grip on the campaign in Ukraine, he is considering this option more and more seriously.

Tetjana Vasilets, Koropets, Monday 28 February

Because of the war I left Kiev. At home I followed several Telegram channels and watched the national TV channel 1+1. The main television channels have joined forces and are holding an information marathon 24/7. You see the same news on every channel.

During my flight to Koropets, a village in the west of the country, I followed the events via radio, Telegram, Facebook and Instagram. In Koropets I also listen to radio station Suspilne. You can compare that to the BBC. As a former journalist, I understand the importance of verifying all information.

In the Russian TV show *Time will tell* the presenter speaks about the ‘de-nazification’ of Ukraine.
Image private collection

During the info marathon, the journalists cover various topics: what our government, the European Union and the world are saying, about the reception centers, how people take shelter in the metro stations. The broadcasters use videos from social media. We see live reports from Ukrainian cities. The programs warn viewers of misinformation from the enemy’s media. In the middle of the broadcast, the air-raid siren goes off, the journalists run to the air raid shelter.

The journalists say that the war is a crime and that Russia should be brought before the International Court of Justice in The Hague. The journalists are calling on Russian soldiers to surrender. And of course the popular cry is: ‘Russian ship, get the clothes’. These were the words of the border guard on a Ukrainian island in the Black Sea after an ultimatum from the Russian navy.

Vasily Shabat, Moscow, Tuesday, March 1

Users of social networks openly muse about a coup d’état. Reporters with contacts within the Putin civil service are posting articles describing his entourage as shocked and surprised by the war. But there are warnings against premature optimism. Although the Russian army faces setbacks, they are very likely to capture some or all of the major cities.

Tetjana Vasilets, Koropets, Tuesday 1 March

In the morning, Vasilets sends a video of a bombing raid on Freedom Square in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, Kharkiv in Ukrainian spelling, and writes:

Kharkiv this morning ((((((((((((((

Tetjana Vasilets
Image private collection

Vasily Shabat, Moscow, Wednesday, March 2

The economic panic sets in. A friend who works for an international company was fired today along with her colleagues. In the professional chat groups, advertising agencies notice that orders are drying up. It’s gotten chilly. Economic life in Russia as we know it is over.

Stories are circulating on social media that martial law will apply from March 4. Everyone expects restrictions on leaving Russia. Reports are coming in that airports and train stations are full of panicked people. A friend reports that of the 40 employees in his IT company, 22 want to emigrate as soon as possible. We have sent our eldest sons, who are on military service, to Israel. Buying tickets was a nightmare.

Tetjana Vasilets, Koropets, Wednesday 2 March

Floris, sorry, I was exhausted after today.

Vasilets does send a photo of workers at the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, in southeastern Ukraine. They await the Russian army with Ukrainian flags. Vasilets’ brother works there. Shortly after, she sends a video with the Russian army approaching, followed by fighting.

Vasily Shabat, Moscow, Thursday 3 March

Rumors of martial law dominate social media. The Duma is working on a law that could put you in jail for 15 years if you spread “fake news” about the war in Ukraine. The only two remaining opposition channels, Echo Moskvi and online TV channel TV Dozhd (TV Regen), were closed today. As I write this I don’t know if I will have internet in 24 hours. Everyone expects YouTube to shut down. It’s unclear what’s next.

Tetjana Vasilets, Koropets, Thursday 3 March

Vasilets does not respond to a request to describe another day, gives some more personal data and concludes with:

Today we managed to find food. There was shelling at the nuclear power plant where my brother works. I worry.

On Friday, March 4, the Russian army seizes the nuclear power plant.

Vasily Shabat
Photos: Private Collections

Vasily Shabat, Moscow, Saturday, March 5

An amazing amount has changed in the last 48 hours. All for the worse. Facebook is officially banned, although it works fine over a VPN [een verbinding waarmee regionale internetbeperkingen omzeild kunnen worden]† There is no martial law yet, but a law has been passed that would punish anti-war speeches or facts considered ‘fake’ about the Russian military with up to 15 years in prison. The publication of this diary does not seem to go directly against the law, but I sense a risk. Still, I gave the editor the green light. Most people, myself included, have changed their Facebook feeds so that their posts are only visible to friends and have removed their anti-war posts. The political discussion vanished in the blink of an eye. Opposition voices are almost nowhere to be heard.

Tetjana Vasilets, Koropets, Saturday 5 March

I’ve had enough of the news. I don’t watch TV anymore, just radio and Telegram. My brother is still alive, but he can’t leave. Too dangerous. My uncle and cousin volunteered to join the territorial forces. So I have plenty of reasons to be concerned.

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