Russian forces ‘arresting people for wearing colours of Ukraine flag’
R
ussian safety officers have begun arresting individuals for sporting colors much like the Ukrainian flag, British defence chiefs declare.
In its newest intelligence replace, the UK’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) mentioned the Russian National Guard has interpreted wartime laws to imply that public shows of blue and yellow are outlawed.
The MoD cited studies of a care residence employee who was arrested for sporting a blue and yellow jacket to work. Another man, aged 22, was additionally detained for displaying the blue and yellow flag of Russia’s personal Aerospace Forces in Volkhov close to St Petersburg.
The MoD mentioned the clampdown exhibits a “paranoid Russian officialdom” in an “increasingly totalitarian” system.
They wrote: “Some local Russian security officials are likely interpreting Russia’s draconian wartime legislation to mean that public display of blue and yellow items is outlawed because it might evidence discreet support for Ukraine.
“On 09 May 2023, a care home worker was reportedly arrested after wearing a blue and yellow jacket to work.
“In recent days, Russian National Guard troops arrested a 22 year old man in Volkhov near St Petersburg for displaying which was eventually determined to be the blue and yellow flag of Russia’s own Aerospace Forces.”
The MoD added: “The clampdown highlights uncertainty within a paranoid Russian officialdom of what is and is [not] deemed permissible within an increasingly totalitarian system.
“Criticism of the arrests has come from an unexpected quarter: the ultra-nationalist, pro-war Liberal Democratic party. The party’s own branding features yellow on a blue background.”
It comes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky mentioned on Saturday that Ukraine was able to launch a counter-offensive to recapture Russian-occupied territory.
He mentioned: “We strongly believe that we will succeed. I don’t know how long it will take.
“But we are going to do it and we are ready.”
Kyiv hopes that taking again land will change the dynamics of the conflict.
Mr Zelensky mentioned final month that he was ready for extra armoured automobiles to reach earlier than beginning the marketing campaign.
Russia holds Ukrainian territory within the East, South and South East.