Russian-backed separatists are on the march. And on Instagram.
#Slavyansk.
On Thursday, April 17, Russian President Vladimir Putin admitted for the first time that the "green men," who seized the Crimean peninsula were in fact Russian soldiers. Putin has continued to deny that Russian soldiers are in eastern Ukraine, despite Ukrainian and media claims otherwise.
The full caption on the photo, originally in Russian, reads:
"We were in the center today ... I'm still under the impressions of what I saw. In the city there are tanks, soldiers with automatic weapons, residents of the town are taking pictures of them with their kids. Everyone is happy, they've come out like it's a holiday. Under the executive committee building, grannies are sitting and for some reason [rock singer] Zemfira's music is playing. There are boys standing at the checkpoints drinking beer. People are walking around the center of town with beers in their hands ... it's an abnormal situation. In the city there's war but everyone is satisfied, as if they don't understand. I don't know what to expect next. No, it's not scary. It's a shame and I have a lump in my throat."
#Euromaidan #Slovyansk #Donbass #Donestkrepublic #Russia #Ukraine #AntiMaidan #tanks #nowar #separatists
Former BuzzFeed World Reporter, Current BuzzFeed News Contributor
Contact Miriam Berger at miriam.berger+done@buzzfeed.com.
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Susie Armitage is the Global Managing Editor and is based in New York.
Contact Susie Armitage at susie.armitage@buzzfeed.com.