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Western press fetishizes Ukrainian amputees as limb loss epidemic grows
The grayzone ^ | August 15, 2023 | Kit Klarenbberg

Posted on 09/02/2023 7:47:01 AM PDT by MarMema

With Ukrainian forces reportedly suffering a level of amputations reminiscent of WWI, a New York Times proxy war propagandist is spinning amputees as sex symbols and painting their gruesome injuries as “magical.” After 18 months of devastating proxy warfare, the scale of the depletion of the Ukrainian military is so extensive that even mainstream sources have been forced to concede the cruel reality. On August 1, The Wall Street Journal reported that “between 20,000 and 50,000 Ukrainians” have “lost one or more limbs since the start of the war.” What’s more, the outlet notes, “the actual figure could be higher” because “it takes time to register patients after they undergo the procedure.”

By comparison, around 67,000 Germans and 41,000 Britons underwent amputations during the entire four-year span of the First World War. The publication quotes the head of a group of former military surgeons who train Ukrainian military medics who maintained that “Western military surgeons haven’t seen injuries on this scale since World War II.”

While the implications of the Journal’s report have largely been studiously ignored by Western media, at least one mainstream journalist has displayed a keen interest in Kiev’s amputees. The New York Times’ columnist and ardent liberal interventionist Nicholas Kristof practically fetishized the mass disfigurement of Ukrainian combat veterans in the name of Washington’s war du jour.

In a July 8 op-ed titled “They’re Ready to Fight Again, on Artificial Legs,” Kristof insisted that rather than resenting being used as cannon fodder, Ukraine’s newly-disabled veterans “carry their stumps with pride.” Citing one soldier who expressed hopes of returning to the frontline despite missing three limbs, Kristof framed such “grit and resilience” as a sure sign Kiev is winning the proxy conflict, and will inevitably emerge victorious over Russia.

The gut-wrenching homage to crippled and mangled Ukrainian soldiers even spun amputation as a means of getting laid, quoting the wife of one amputee as saying, “he’s very sexy without a leg.”

Another amputee cited in the op-ed claimed he had never dared ask his hometown crush out on a date before being hospitalized for “mortar injuries that took his leg and mangled his arms.” But after suffering irreparable and life-altering injuries, he and his sweetheart have been together ever since, the disabled soldier claimed.

Kristof quoted the soldier as follows: “It’s magical. Someone can have all his arms and legs and still not be successful in love, but an amputee can win a heart.”

Hyping Russian losses, covering up Ukraine’s

Throughout the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Western officials and journalists have taken a decidedly asymmetrical approach to reporting combat losses. Since the conflict’s first days, legacy media has dutifully repeated the vast, unverifiable figures that NATO-affiliated analysts insist Moscow suffered on the battlefield. In April 2022, the BBC even went as far as to publish the names and photos of Russian soldiers allegedly killed during the war.

But when reporting on Ukrainian casualties, major news outlets typically refer to the figure as a “closely guarded state secret.” The same senior US intelligence and defense officials who are heavily involved in assisting Kiev on military planning and strategy appear to be genuinely in the dark. On the rare occasion that these sources comment publicly on Kiev’s losses, they invariably caution that they’re merely offering an “estimate.”

From the perspective of Kiev and its foreign backers, the proxy war’s informational component is among its most impactful, and the propaganda utility of concealing losses is clear. Shielding Western audiences from the devastating human cost of the conflict makes the ever-fanciful prospect of Ukrainian victory seem more attainable, and keeps public support for the fight high, arms shipments flowing, and the profits of major weapons manufacturers soaring.


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KEYWORDS: grayzone; ukraine
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To: USA-FRANCE
I love the Russian PEOPLE

They're not totally off the hook. A typical Russian family might be decent. They're just trying to get through life just like us.

But the Russian population is pro-Putin. They believe that they should conquer Ukraine. I don't have the statistics. But maybe over 60% of the Russians believe in that? Only few Russians are "liberal" enough to believe that the war in Ukraine is morally wrong.

41 posted on 09/02/2023 2:41:04 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
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To: MinorityRepublican

So are my two daughters. Should I expect them to change into despots soon?


42 posted on 09/02/2023 5:59:48 PM PDT by MarMema (Eat your bananas, enjoy the decline)
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To: USA-FRANCE
The Russian people keep electing Putin because Putin has been great leader. The government reflects the people of Russia.

And, the Russian government nor Putin are what you claim. Russia under Putin is freer than the US under Biden or France under Macron.

43 posted on 09/02/2023 6:30:24 PM PDT by Kazan
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To: Kazan

“The Russian people keep electing Putin because Putin has been great leader. The government reflects the people of Russia.”

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.

You say the Russian people “keep electing” Putin...
Well, We have seen the countless and countless of election riggers stuffing ballot boxes and more. The election process in Russia is a complete catastrophe.

The Russian deep state keep electing their guy Putin via cheating.

America has equivalent deep state people rigging it all for the Democrats.

So you see, Russia has the same problem as America when it comes to rigging elections.

Also you said:
“And, the Russian government nor Putin are what you claim. Russia under Putin is freer than the US under Biden or France under Macron.”

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Your claim is insane.
The Russian Government is clamping down on the Russian people like hell!
If you are an opposition leader you will most probably be killed, or sent to rot in prison for life.

And if you are a regular Russian citizen you are not allowed to say anything not to demonstrate.
Example: If you dare saying there is a WAR going on in between Russia and Ukraine, you’ get at least 5 years in prison!!

Also, how come only pro-government news outlets are allowed to operate in Russia??
It’s like if only CNN-type of media would be allowed to operate in America! Can you imagine the nightmare??

Russia has become a paradise for rich people working for the Kremlin deep-state.

Russia has become hell for regular Russian citizens who value free speech and freedom.

About 100.000 russian soldiers dead in only 1.5 years (!) of war on the killing fields ok Ukraine (many experts say ite closer to 150.000 deaths). They are russian citizens too right? All dead for deal leader Putin. For nothing.

This is dramatic for Russia. They want to bring Ukraine down as well apparently.


44 posted on 09/02/2023 8:03:09 PM PDT by USA-FRANCE
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