Maxou retweetledi
Ok. So I'm going to post about the whole "Russia stole Ukrianian children hoax."
I went to two funerals of children in Donbass. Killed by Ukrianian shelling. They were hard to find. Driving around all morning in the suburbs. Asking people.
The first I turned up as the funeral procession was starting. I asked the family if I could film. They said yes. And I did a story about her. A six year old girl, Alina. A deeply lovely family. Whom I went back to see six months later.
The second. I turned up as the funeral was going on. Asked if I could film. They said no. And I was shouted at by mourners as I left. "You're British! You did this!" They were angry that Britain was supplying weapons to Ukriane. One of those times as a journalist, you just have to stand there and feel absolutely awful.
I spent a lot of time on the frontlines of Donbass. Its a hellscape war zone out of an American zombie movie. Most families have fled. Although some have stayed and even have their kids with them. I would go out with a humanitarian worker I knew. It was the only way I could gain access to these areas and bypass Russian checkpoints.
You have these tough Donbass people who wont leave their land. Or arent rich enough to leave. There's Donbass and Russian artillery. Tanks firing. Snipers. One old woman told me how she was shot and she laughed. These are tough people. And some of them still have their kids with them. And so some of them die.
I knew this woman in central Donestk. Who would arrange my accommodation. A real estate agent. A tough woman. But when the shelling got really bad. She sent her kids to a sea side town to keep them safe.
After months in Donetsk. I realized one day. I haven't seen a child in months. Because their parents had got them all out. So bad was the was shelling.
Russians stealing Ukrainain children is absurd. They are just trying to keep children safe.
When peace is sorted out. People will be able to go wherever they want.
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