A Judoche from Russia exposes the Russian regime. This is propaganda

The Russian invasion of. The whole world of sport unites and expresses solidarity with the Ukrainians, and also provides help. Meanwhile, global organizations exclude Russian and Belarusian teams and local sportsmen from subsequent events and competitions. Some Russian players spoke out against the war in Ukraine. However, many of them are surprised to find that they are being excluded. They are not clear-cut and some are even openly in favor of action.

The Russians live in their bubble. “Nobody is bombing you, don’t be kidding”

Since the beginning of the war, many people have been asking themselves what is the attitude of the Russians to the attack on Ukraine? Do the Russians even know what is going on there? As it turns out, Russian propaganda makes sure that the dramatic reports from Ukraine do not reach. This is very well illustrated by the situation told by the former Russian judo, Darija Yadova. Even though she is Russian, she has been living in Ukraine for several years. The war found her there too.

– On February 24, at five o’clock in the morning, my husband’s mother burst into the room. She was screaming and crying so much that I couldn’t even understand what had happened. I didn’t believe it at first, I didn’t take it seriously. But then my friends started writing about it, posting photos and videos on social media – says Darija in an interview with ua.tribuna.com.

– I thought everyone in Russia understood everything. But athletes are not aware of what is happening, says Darija. This does not only apply to athletes, however. The Russian woman may have been shocked when she talked to her grandmother, who lives in Russia. Darija told her what was happening in Ukraine. – My grandmother lives in Russia. She is over 70 years old. And she said to me, “Dasha, what are you talking about? Nobody is bombing you. Everything is fine, don’t make jokes like that.” I started telling her but she doesn’t believe me. I tell her: “Grandma, don’t you believe me? If Putin drops nuclear weapons on us, we won’t be here at all.” And she replies, “No, he won’t. He’s good.”

– As you can see, people live in poverty, but believe it and love it. There are people who really read, watch and understand. They write that it is a disaster. Many say it’s awful. When I moved to Ukraine, people in Russia scared me that Ukrainians did not like Russians, that it was dangerous there. And since I came, I have never encountered anything like this – she said.

“We thought Vladimir Putin was a very nice person”

She also added that she had radically changed her mind about Vladimir Putin. Let us remind you that the head of the Russian state is a lover of martial arts. He was training from the age of 11, that is the same discipline that Jadowa practiced. As a result of the war, he lost the title of honorary president and ambassador of the International Judo Federation (IJF).

– I’m ashamed now. At the time [w czasie inwazji Rosji na Donbas i aneksji Krymu w 2014 roku] I was involved in sports and was far from politics. Now I started to delve into it all and thought, “Putin, are you that kind of person ?!” When I was playing sports, he sponsored judo very well, we lived happily and we thought Vladimir Putin was a very nice person. And that’s why I’m ashamed. I remember the moment when Ukrainians suddenly disappeared from the judo arena. I knew there was a war going on, but I was just living my life. Then I met my future husband (Bohdan Jadow, Ukrainian judoka – ed.), Asked how they were doing and what was happening with them. He told me, but I didn’t pay much attention to it. My point is that now the Russian athletes with whom I communicate are too far from all these problems – summed up the former judoczka.