European media reports point to the young Russians fleeing the alleged military mobilization
for the Ukrainian war instead of the tens of thousands of desperate young Ukrainian civilians and the more than 100,000 deserting Ukrainian soldiers who are doing everything they can to avoid being used as cannon fodder for NATO’s proxy war against Russia in the east of the country, which the aggressive war alliance is about to lose.
Even the pro-war “Politico” now admits: “Draft-dodging plague” (Politico headline from March 25, 2024)
The Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ), a major newspaper in Switzerland, Germany and Austria, reports in its latest headline from Vietnam:
“The Vietnamese vacation resort of Nha Trang attracts families who do not want to lay down their lives for Putin’s war”.
The article on young Russian dissidents concludes with a quote from the Russian singer Turi, who lives in the well-known Vietnamese coastal town of Nha Trag, often referred to in the media as the beach capital of Vietnam: “We all want to live a normal life.” For many Russians, especially those who do not run a bar or bakery, which can be counted on one hand, or online programmers, for example, this poses a major challenge.
Vacation paradise Nha Trang, Vietnam (Photo: Felix Abt)
A young Russian lawyer, who I sometimes share a beer with, is fortunate to handle legal cases for a Moscow law firm while based in Nha Trang. However, a significant number of young Russians find themselves without a steady income, teetering on the brink of poverty. The newspaper report fails to mention this entirely. And in contrast to my experience, the reporter did not observe any Russian children selling their homemade toys to tourists on the beach. She merely refers to a handful of Russians she met in a bar run by a Russian in Nha Trang. She writes about them:
“They don’t know if they will ever have the chance to return home once the war concludes.” The journalist speculates, “Russia is potentially losing some of its most gifted individuals – possibly for good.” She references the former policeman Anton, who reportedly posed this question to his children: “(In Russia) there is the threat of prison and war; here (in Nha Trang), there is beach and sun. Where would you like to call home?” She also writes about the Russian globetrotter Anton, who is “escaping Russian mobilization.”
The article omits a crucial point: Not long ago, the city was home to a significantly greater number of young Russians. A large portion of them has returned to Russia. When I inquired of a Russian acquaintance, who was getting ready to head back to Russia, if he had any fears about reprisals, he responded with a straightforward: “Why? I never received marching orders, so I’m not a deserter.”
Reports indicate that approximately 50% of Russians who departed the country following the invasion of Ukraine have made their way back to Russia. Of the approximately 900,000 Russians who left, about 450,000 have made their way back home.
Pure nonsensical propaganda from Bloomberg: Russian ‘deserters’ return to Russia to “boost Putin’s war economy” (Bloomberg headline from May 2, 2024)
Young Russians residing in Nha Trang feared a potential general mobilization following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, yet this scenario did not unfold. The Institute for the Study of War in Washington reports that the Russian armed forces are enlisting 30,000 volunteers each month. This exceeded the requirements for soldiers in the armed forces by a significant margin.
Ukrainian sources and the Washington Institute for the Study of War report that Russia is successfully recruiting 30,000 volunteers each month, allowing it to sidestep a general mobilization. Business Insider: Headline
As reported by Wikipedia, Russia allocates 6.5% of its GDP to military spending. This number falls notably short compared to Algeria’s 8.2% and Saudi Arabia’s 7.1%. In 1944, Germany’s GDP reached a staggering 75%, highlighting a definitive transition to a wartime economy. This stands in sharp contrast to the circumstances in Russia, despite frequent references in Western reports to the purported Russian war economy.
Foreign Policy (FP) propaganda packaged as “Analysis.” (FP headline, November 14, 2024)
This summer I had the opportunity to visit Russia and was amazed at the country’s dynamic economy – the stores are full of products and the restaurants are packed with diners. The war and sanctions were nowhere to be felt.
The four countries with the highest military spending in the world in 2023, measured by GDP (source: Statista)
The reporter’s visit to Nha Trang overlooked the chance to connect with the local Vietnamese perspectives. My Vietnamese acquaintances mentioned that during one of his recent visits, Putin canceled Vietnam’s considerable debt. With a sense of bitterness, they observe: “The Americans remain indebted to us; each day, innocent Vietnamese lives are lost due to the toxins and bombs unleashed by the US. Each day, farmers face the tragic consequences of unexploded American bombs, suffering injuries or even losing their lives. Simultaneously, countless babies are born lifeless or with serious deformities due to the impact of American toxins, while Washington remains silent, offering no compensation for these devastating losses.”
The author supports a Vietnamese orphanage (pictured) for children who have been so badly damaged by American dioxin (“Agent Orange”) that they will never be able to survive on their own (photo: Felix Abt).
The lesbian woman Turi, who works as a singer in a Russian bar and as a singing teacher, is quoted in the newspaper as saying, “Putin has stolen my country.” This is why the reporter adds, “Putin sees homosexuality as a threat to the state.” He might see it that way, or he might not. In 2013, Russia passed a law banning “propaganda for non-traditional sexual relations among minors.” In July 2020, Russian voters approved a constitutional amendment that bans same-sex marriage. The amendment states that marriage can only be between a man and a woman. Whether this is morally reprehensible or acceptable is not for me to judge. The Russians have to decide that for themselves.
The reporting shows how much it is sloppy research and unrealistic, biased opinion journalism that is very characteristic of Western mainstream media. Anyone who still pays money for this is beyond help. The transition to alternative media is long overdue.
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Felix Abt is an entrepreneur, author and travel blogger currently living in Vietnam.