It’s hard to explain why, but from time to time the media of the occupied Donbas churn out news or reports that, according to russian censorship, clearly fall under the criminal article “discrediting the SMO” or even “sabotage”. And last week, the “official” website of the “DNR” honestly reported that the cities and settlements “liberated” by the russian army continue to lie in ruins, and no one is restoring them — nor does anyone intend to.
Second-hand embarrassment
So, at the beginning of the week, a group of local propagandists visited Halyna, “the only resident of Marinka”. It seems that they’ve turned her into a media figure, a kind of symbol of resilience and the “Donbas character”. “When russian troops entered the city, Halyna was evacuated to Oleksandrivka, but after the frontline moved away, she returned to her home”, - russian journalists proudly remind us about their fellow neighbour. But let’s read carefully the report from what used to be a city before the arrival of the “russian world”…
“Before the war in Donbas (in Marinka — OstroV) more than 10,000 people lived here”, - the occupation propaganda admits that this once flourishing and populous settlement has been turned into an area unfit for living. “The fighting for Marinka ended in late 2023”, - they clarify, acknowledging that the city’s restoration has been on pause for almost 2 years! True, the authors of the report praised the “russian world”, saying that “builders from the patron region — the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug — recently repaired the roof of the woman’s house”. Had they not illustrated the story about repairing this one single house with photographs, one could have talked about a “heroic labor feat” of the patrons. However, the visual of the hastily patched roof against the backdrop of “Halyna preparing for winter” left no doubt that it is impossible to spend the winter in the “repaired” house.
Nevertheless, the woman herself admitted that “she plans to spend the winter in the summer kitchen: it’s more convenient that way”. “Halyna built the stove herself”, - propagandists confirm, showing that despite media visits from numerous journalists and volunteers, the woman has been left entirely on her own and survives as best she can.
And finally, it turned out that the city destroyed by the russian army — abandoned and forgotten by everyone — has now become easy prey for looters. “In our conversation, Halyna lamented that recently her chainsaw and electric generator were stolen”, - is how the authors of the report about the heroic woman described the everyday life of Marinka.
The stolen football club name
A few more publications that sparked a new wave of shame among readers were dedicated to the local football club that appropriated the name of the legendary "Shakhtar". It turned out that sports-adjacent propagandists are trying to "nationalize" not only the name, which they claim had become "ownerless", but also its biography. "Next year FC 'Shakhtar' will celebrate its greatest date — 90 years since the club’s founding", - reported the separatist resources. They try to convince residents of the occupied Donetsk oblast that the "physical culture and sports society 'Shakhtar'", created in December 2020, is the real "Shakhtar". To this end, local media rejoice, "a big festive event worthy of this date is being prepared".
A few days earlier, another piece of news was dedicated to the self-proclaimed "Shakhtar" — to the delight of fans, a yard football team won the right to play in the Second (lowest) league of russian football. Its "home" arena became… a stadium in russian Taganrog.
"Friends, you often ask why 'Shakhtar Donetsk' is not playing in the DNR… The main reason is safety… As long as the territory is in the SMO area, holding official matches there is prohibited", - explained the press service of fake "Shakhtar", justifying the stadium’s low level.
"Not everyone is happy with the revival of the Donetsk club. In Kyiv and beyond, there are plenty of those trying to use the 'Shakhtar' topic for provocations. 'Shakhtar' remains a Donetsk club. The name, colors, spirit — all of this is forever connected to our city. We live with the idea of its return and work every day for the moment when the team will play on the field in Donetsk again", - the authors go to great lengths to convince readers that a football club, barely scraping into the lowest league in a foreign country, playing in the remote russian provinces, is somehow the same "Shakhtar" that won the UEFA Cup and delighted its fans for 90 years.
And a few more words about stealing someone else’s glory. At the end of last week, local Telegram channels reported that "an analog of KFC has opened in 'Donetsk City' mall" — the international fast-food chain specializing in chicken dishes. Donetsk entrepreneurs reasoned that chickens exist in the "DNR" too, so by slightly changing the design of the establishment, they declared that Donetsk now has its own, almost global brand.
"Please share the impressions of those who visited the venue", - propagandists urge, praising this next act of theft. "I’m so happy that I’m shaking", - was all readers could respond to this plea…
By Yurii Bovkh, OstroV