Incredible scene on a Russian TV channel. A New Year’s Eve TV show host toasted Russia, saying unflinchingly that his country is “getting bigger” as the conflict escalates.
“The West tried to destroy Russia”
On the occasion of the New Year, Russian antennas went up, as in France, to its 31. But in the country of Vladimir Putin, the celebrations took on an astonishing, if not disarming, tone on a state television channel.
“My Christmas toast will be a bit unusual,” the show’s host says in the intro, a glass of champagne placed in front of him and several Christmas trees visible in the background.
“Au cours de cette année, l’Occident a essayé de destruire la Russie. Ils n’ont pas compris que la Russie est le pilier qui soutient le monde”, lance l’homme en costume rouge, avant d’être largement applaudi par the public.
“Yes, gentlemen, whether you like it or not, Russia is growing!” he then confidently states, flashing a wide smile.
Confetti and military in uniform
The show, produced in a decidedly festive atmosphere, alternates numbers inspired by traditional Russian dances under a shower of confetti and more serious speeches, sometimes evoking the ongoing conflict. Uniformed soldiers also appear among other guests dressed in their party clothes, making for a surprising cocktail party.
More than ten months after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, certain Russian television channels continue to visibly maintain among the population the idea that Moscow leads its troops to success.
The Russian president also chose to adopt a decidedly optimistic tone during his New Year’s greetings, in a mise-en-scene.
“Together we will overcome all obstacles (…) and we will win,” he said, confident of final victory.
Far from the Kremlin and the television sets, the conflict continues on the Ukrainian front. Russia acknowledged on Monday the death of 63 of its soldiers in Ukraine, killed in an attack on separatist territory in the east of the country. This is the largest loss in a single attack admitted by Moscow since the beginning of the invasion.
Source: BFM TV
