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submitted 6 months ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/world@lemmy.world

He and his parents were among the last in their village to take a Russian passport, but the pressure was becoming unbearable.

By his third beating at the hands of the Russian soldiers occupying Ukraine’s Kherson region, Vyacheslav Ryabkov caved. The soldiers broke two of his ribs, but his face was not bruised for his unsmiling passport photo, taken in September 2023.

It wasn’t enough.

In December, they caught the welder on his way home from work. Then one slammed his rifle butt down on Ryabkov’s face, smashing the bridge of his nose.

“Why don’t you fight for us? You already have a Russian passport,” they demanded. The beating continued as the 42-year-old fell unconscious.

“Let’s finish this off,” one soldier said. A friend ran for Ryabkov’s mother.

Russia has successfully imposed its passports on nearly the entire population of occupied Ukraine by making it impossible to survive without them, coercing hundreds of thousands of people into citizenship ahead of elections Vladimir Putin has made certain he will win, an Associated Press investigation has found. But accepting a passport means that men living in occupied territory can be drafted to fight against the same Ukrainian army that is trying to free them.

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[-] 3volver@lemmy.world 102 points 6 months ago
[-] mathemachristian@lemm.ee 5 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

Its also what Ukraine is doing right now, so not sure you what your point is.

[-] Womble@lemmy.world 98 points 6 months ago

Exactly which bit of a foreign country is Ukraine occupying and forcing its citizens to fight for them?

[-] Duamerthrax@lemmy.world 12 points 6 months ago

Probably believes the line about Ukraine always having been a part of Russia and its citizens Russians.

[-] Womble@lemmy.world 14 points 6 months ago

I looked through their other posts, their answer was "Russians with Ukrainian passports" so literally yes, they think Russian speakers in Ukraine are property of Russia.

[-] mashbooq@infosec.pub 56 points 6 months ago

Fuck off fascist

[-] starman2112@sh.itjust.works 46 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

This has to be a joke

my other account: https://hexbear.net/u/mathemachristian

Oh god he's serious

[-] x4740N@lemmy.world 35 points 6 months ago
[-] fuckingkangaroos@lemm.ee 17 points 6 months ago

More trash from Hexbear, what a surprise.

[-] Socsa@sh.itjust.works 15 points 6 months ago

Stop. Get some help.

[-] itsnotits@lemmy.world 3 points 6 months ago
this post was submitted on 15 Mar 2024
385 points (100.0% liked)

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