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Russian journalist at RFI, Denis Strelkov was in Kiev at the start of the war in Ukraine
Audio 16:59
Denis Strelkov, Russian journalist at RFI, during a Facebook live, in Kiev, March 1, 2022. © RFI
By: Alexandra Cagnard Follow
2 mins
The war in Ukraine is entering its second week.
The editorial staff of Radio France internationale remain mobilized to follow the events.
Back from Kiev, the Ukrainian capital, Denis Strelkov, a journalist with the Russian editorial staff of RFI, recounts and gives his feelings as a Russian reporter on the first hours of this invasion.
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In this episode of
Witnesses to the news
,
Denis Strelkov
explains that he arrived in Kiev, by plane, two days before the
start of the war
.
His Russian nationality made his passage through border controls very complicated.
“
For quite some time now, it has not been easy to return to Ukraine with a Russian passport.
Even though I was perfectly legal, at the border they thought I might be a Russian agent.
After a night in a special area of the airport, they understood that I did not work for Russia.
»
The next day, February 24, 2022, Vladimir Putin announced on television that he had ordered a special operation on Ukrainian territory.
At first, Denis was seized by amazement: "
I said to myself: 'But how did I find myself in Kiev, on the day of the start of an unprecedented war
?'
Then I started to hear the sirens
.
Denis Strelkov also says that the owners of the hotel, in which he was staying with other journalists, left.
They left them the keys, told them where the water supplies and the underground shelter were and said: “
Good luck
”.
From these first hours of war, Denis begins his interventions on RFI to tell what is happening in Kiev.
Very quickly too, he thinks about his safety: “
Even if we are journalists, one of the first reflexes is to think about safety.
And with my Russian passport, it became extremely difficult for me to move around the city.
»
Our reporter also says that he was very marked by the “sacred union” of the Ukrainians: “
Before the war, several people I met told me that they would never take up arms.
But after Vladimir Putin's declaration, they are ready to go all the way to defend their country.
Even those who did not necessarily support President
Volodymyr Zelensky
are now behind him
”.
Denis concludes: “
For me, it may no longer be possible to return to Russia.
I saw what happened and contrary to what Vladimir Putin says, this is not a "military operation", it is a real war and I hope it will not become a world war
".
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