by Mike Isaac Read the Original
Summary Notes
Putin has been using the term "Nazi" to describe the Ukrainian government in an attempt to justify his invasion. Russian officials have been amplifying criticism from Jewish groups about far-right groups in the country while Western allies are providing military support to Ukraine. Older Russians are offended by reports of streets being named for a Ukrainian nationalist leader who sided with Nazi Germany and Western supporters of Ukraine are trying to find the right tone to support their far-right military units. Putin's "denazification" mission is increasingly being seen as an attempt to destroy all Ukrainians, and Dolinsky worries that it may decimate Ukraine's Jewish community.
Key Learnings
- Vladimir Putin is using the term "Nazi" to describe the Ukrainian government in order to justify his invasion.
- Russian officials are amplifying Jewish criticism of far-right groups in Ukraine.
- Western allies are providing military support to Ukraine.
- Older Russians are offended by reports of streets being named for a Ukrainian nationalist leader who sided with Nazi Germany.
- Western supporters of Ukraine are trying to find the right tone to support their far-right military units.
- Putin's "denazification" mission is increasingly seen as an attempt to destroy all Ukrainians.
- Dolinsky worries that Putin's war may decimate Ukraine's Jewish community.
- Summary Notes
- Key Learnings
- Putin's Denazification Mission: Destroying Ukrainians?
- Russian Officials Use 'Nazi' Label to Discredit Ukraine
- Western Support for Far-Right in Ukraine Sparks Controversy
Putin's Denazification Mission: Destroying Ukrainians?
Putin has used the word "Nazi" to describe the present-day Ukrainian government, in an attempt to justify his invasion. Ukrainians argue that the horrors of Russia's invasion show that if any country needs to be denazified, it's Russia. Western allies are providing military support to Ukraine, while Russia has reshuffled its military command and deployed mercenaries to the east. Putin's "denazification" mission increasingly means destroying all Ukrainians. “This rhetoric is factually wrong, morally repugnant and deeply offensive,” Russia's attempts to justify their invasion of Ukraine using the word "Nazi" is inaccurate and immoral.
Russian Officials Use 'Nazi' Label to Discredit Ukraine
Russian officials have been using the term "Nazi" to describe Ukraine, amplifying criticism from Jewish groups about far-right groups in the country. This narrative is being used to discredit Ukraine and to convince Western politicians and media of the necessity of invading Ukraine. Older generations of Russians are offended by reports of streets being named for a Ukrainian nationalist leader who sided with Nazi Germany at one point. “none of this justifies the Russian aggression and the gross mischaracterization of Ukraine.” Russia's use of the word "Nazi" to describe Ukraine is a gross exaggeration and does not justify their aggression.
Western Support for Far-Right in Ukraine Sparks Controversy
Western supporters of Ukraine are trying to find the right tone to support their far-right military units. Russia has used this as proof of Western support for Nazis in Ukraine, while Ukrainian Jewish Committee member Dolinsky worries that Putin's war may decimate Ukraine's Jewish community, a result of the "denazification" process. “This problem did exist and continues to,” Mr. Dolinsky said in a phone interview from western Ukraine, a few days after fleeing Kyiv. Even though the Ukrainian government has taken steps to distance itself from far-right groups, they still exist and are a cause for concern.