A viral Twitter video shows Russians holding alarming graphic photos, begging the US & UK to stop sending weapons to UA

To protest the US and UK sending weapons to Ukraine’s army, demanding an end to the supply of weapons helping Kyiv defend itself from Moscow’s invasion.”

The protestors, comprised of Russian youth, held numerous signs depicting injured Russian soldiers with graphic injuries from battle. Rallying outside the US Embassy in Moscow, the group of students raised the photos of maimed soldiers chanting messages to the West, begging for an end to the supply of weapons to Ukraine. The video below shows the students chanting in unison as they protest. [i]

Throughout the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, several countries have continuously provided support in the form of various armaments, including,

• Estonian & Norwegian Howitzers, long-range artillery launchers
• British Javelin anti-tank missiles
• British Mastiff armored vehicles
• Turkish Bayraktar TB2 combat drones
• US Phoenix Ghost tactical drones
• US Mi-24 attack helicopters and
• various “automatic rifles, machine guns, assault rifles, sniper rifles, submachine guns, pistols, and ammunition.” [ii]

Despite Russia being responsible for illegally invading Ukraine, the activist group stood confidently, most with solemn expressions as they rallied together, hoping to garner support for their cause. Unsurprisingly, social media quickly began to ridicule the protestors. [i]

One Twitter user, @UROCKlive1, indicated that the protestors should instead “beg for Russia to stop bombing Ukraine,” as seen in the screenshot below.

Screenshot of Twitter response to protesting Russian students.Photo byCharnell Gilchrist

Another Twitter user implies that the students were paid to participate in the protesting, as illustrated in the following screenshot.

Screenshot of Twitter comment suggesting protesters were paid.Photo byCharnell Gilchrist

Finally, another seemingly unfazed Twitter user, @KateRoe18, calls the entire demonstration “very pathetic and very staged, just for the press.” They express these contentions due to the protest occurring “on Bolshoy Devyatinsky Ln looking south,” “outside the US Embassy in Moscow.”

Screenshot of Twitter comment.Photo byCharnell Gilchrist

Despite what appears to have been a ‘publicity stunt,’ few seem to be moved by the student protestor’s requests. Reports indicate “over 6,000 cases have been initiated in Ukraine concerning crimes against humanity committed b the Russians.

Furthermore, according to an image shared by @YHustled, the United States committed $25.76 billion in military aid to Ukraine between Jan. 24 and May 10, 2022. [iii]

Screenshot of Twitter comment sharing statistic infographic.Photo byCharnell Gilchrist

References

[i] Ebun Hargrave, Russia activists beg West to stop supplying weapons to Ukraine to kill Moscow troops, (Aug. 18, 2022)

[ii] Hanna Duggal, Marium Ali, What weapons has Ukraine received from the US and allies? (Jun. 15, 2022)

[iii] Poland Posts English, Russian students demonstrated in front of the US Embassy. Against . . . rearming Ukraine, (Aug. 17, 2022)