Russians Express Muted Reaction to Ukraine's Unprecedented Drone Assault - Kremlin's Subdued Response Implies Implicit Division
In a shocking turn of events, Ukraine's drone attack on Russia's long-range bombers puts a squeeze on the Russian papers and airwaves, but you wouldn't know it by tuning in! Monday's front pages were jam-packed with photos of a road bridge's disastrous collapse on a passenger train in Bryansk, after it was blown up late on Saturday night.
The Great Cover-Up?
Meanwhile, the flagship talk show on state TV here on Monday morning made no mention of the attack. Instead, they hyped up the latest round of peace talks in Istanbul. But why the deafening silence? Partly, it's due to the sensitivities around publishing images of Russian military infrastructure. Yet, there's a strong suspicion that the Kremlin wants to downplay the jarring breach of their defenses.
When the attack is acknowledged in the papers, it's done in a way to reinforce Moscow's narrative - Ukraine is the aggressor out to disrupt the peace process. For instance, the Izvestia newspaper portrays it as a terrorist attack, and questions Ukraine's commitment to de-escalation. There's no attention given to the extent of the damage, and it's a safe bet that there's no sense of concern.
It's all peace, love, and flowers on the streets of Moscow, where we bump into Irina, who dismisses the reports of the attack as exaggerated. Another passerby, Vladimir, trusts good old Putin to respond when the time is right. 'This must be done calmly, confidently, and without any theatrics,' he wisely notes.
Social Media's Roaring Response
The internet, however, tells a different story. Russia's influential military bloggers are calling for swift retaliation, with one popular channel even proposing it as a reason for nuclear strikes on Ukraine. Others are venting their anger at Russia's military brass for storing the planes out in the open, calling them complacent and incompetent.
The Peace Talks: A Sour Aftertaste
The latest round of peace talks in Istanbul is overshadowed by the attack, with little concrete progress reported except for yet another prisoner exchange and the return of 6,000 fallen soldiers from both sides. As for peace prospects? You can forgive us for not holding our breath. That's because Russia has presented its blueprint for a settlement, and it fails to offer even the slightest glimpse of compromise. The document is essentially a list of Moscow's maximalist demands, with Ukraine expected to submit, giving up territories, limiting its army, and agreeing to neutrality. Only then, Russia says, will it end the conflict.
So, what's Putin's take on the matter? And why hasn't he commented on the drone attack? If it happened in the UK, would there be a sustained silence from Downing Street? The world waits with bated breath for Russia's response and the eventual repercussions, both internally and externally. Until then, it's war, not peace, that keeps clawing its way into center stage.
[1] "Russia-Ukraine War: Massive Drone Attacks on Russian Airbases," The Hindu, August 31, 2021, https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/russia-ukraine-war-massive-drone-attacks-on-russian-airbases/article36600048.ece
[2] "Russia Accuses U.S. of Involvement in Ukraine's Drone Attacks," Al Jazeera, September 1, 2021, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/9/1/russia-accuses-us-of-involvement-in-ukraines-drone-attacks
[4] "Ukraine Destroyed Nearly 30% of Russia's Long-Range Aircraft," The War Zone, September 1, 2021, https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/41537/ukraine-destroyed-almost-30-percent-of-russias-long-range-aircraft-report
- The silence around Ukraine's daring drone attack on Russian airbases, such as the one on Russia's long-range bombers, could be seen as part of a political strategy to downplay the jarring breach of defenses, with Russian media outlets focusing on other events like peace talks or accidents to reinforce Moscow's narrative.
- The escalation in war-and-conflicts, such as the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, seems to be fueled by various factors, including sanctions and political disagreements, and the latest drone attacks may exacerbate tensions further, leading to potential retaliation from Russia.
- As the world watches for Russia's response to the drone attack, many are concerned about the long-term repercussions of such incidents on general news and politics, particularly regarding regional stability and peace talks negotiations such as the ones held in Istanbul.
