The cartoon shared by Ukraine’s official Twitter account on its networks on the first day of Russia’s invasion of the neighboring country. It shows Adolf Hitler lovingly greeting Vladimir Putin (@Ukraine).
American documentary filmmaker and photographer Julien Bryan he sensed terror was imminent. He knew that some examples of this born war could be captured by his cameras. That’s how it was in September 1939 Warsaw, PolandShe decided to continue hunting for it Nazi Germany started against the population. And it was on a potato farm that he found a synthesis of what the terror would be Second World War. The immortal portrait shows a disturbed girl –Kazia Micha12 years old – next to the lifeless body of her older sister –Andzia Mika, 14- after being hit by a projectile that flew through the air to hit her back while desperately gathering the tubers from hunger. The photo traveled around the planet in the days that followed, causing outrage in public opinion. It would only partially illustrate what Nazi barbarism would be from then on and what a storm hung over it Europe.
It wasn’t the only photo of Bryan -born in Pennsylvania, United States, in 1899 – that would represent what was happening in Eastern Europe. There were dozens of records full of fear for life, fading before the eyes of children, mothers or brothers, which served to project the incipient genocide committed by Adolf Hitler.
In the first hours of the ordered invasion Wladimir Putin to Ukrainethe government of Volodymyr Zelenskyy published an animated series Hitler next to a little Putin in brotherly condescension. Aside from the impact of the meme, there would be surprising parallels during the 40-day siege. The photos shown this Sunday showed what the Russian troops had done Bucha they seemed to have come out of the Aller’s lens in color and high definition Bryan. Images from the last century that jumped in time to sneak into the present.
Putin misses the 20th century and hates the 21st century. He doesn’t hide his nostalgia. He hinted at it in 2016, when on the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Soviet Union said that the dissolution of the bloc educated “the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th century“. Ever since he came to power, he has yearned to restore greatness to the Empire. So he circled Ukraine to invade their territory. He did it under a recurring excuse: denazify them to prevent an alleged ethnic cleansing of the Russian population living within the borders. A mockery of the intelligence of any minimally informed person.
The body of a civilian killed by Russian army soldiers lies on the street amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine, in Bucha, a few kilometers from Kyiv .
The argument of Ukrainian provocation threatens a request for admission to the Nato Nor the European Union to evolve and escape from the orbit of Moscow is also not valid. In what well-meaning mind can there be justification for blaming the victim for his killer’s crime? is Russia –Putin, his generals and his troops– committing war crimes and crimes against humanity Ukraine documented by independent international organizations. This inhuman carnage was to end with a long and massive Nuremberg.
The international community almost unanimously condemned what happened in Buchaa town 50 kilometers away Kyiv, the capital breathing for these hours relieved by the partial withdrawal of the invading forces. The last of the rejections came from the mouth of Michelle BacheletHigh Commissioner for United Nations Human Rights. “Reports from this and other areas raise serious and troubling questions about possible war crimes, serious violations of international humanitarian law, and gross violations of international human rights law‘ said the former Chilean president clearly.
When leaving the ghost town, the Russians left a stream of corpses in their wake. Many of them in a state of decay. Many others with signs of being tortured to death. It also revealed details suffered by other victims who may never recover from what they suffered: women and girls outraged at Russian machismo and impunity. Would that be the “special operations” the Kremlin is talking about? Putin loves the 20th century and Bryan’s photos.
It’s striking and ironic. In favor of “denazification‘ he said he was doing in the neighboring country, the Russian dictator could cause the contempt that hitherto rested only on himself, his inner circle and his oligarchs to be contagious to his soldiers and then to the rest of the Russian people. Above all, this dangerous feeling could be multiplied indefinitely Ukraine which would lead to a hardening of the already strong national defense. Hatred will fuel the country’s defenses. Putin fuels the political and economic isolation.
Only the boss kremlinsome allies who have not yet rejected it Bucha genocide or other atrocities. The most reprehensible silence is that of Russia’s most important partner. China remains silent despite the horror that is visible every day. She is an ally of Moscow and as such, it is complicit in these war crimes unless it expressly expresses its disapproval of what the world is horrified to see. Your economy could be affected if Europe extends sanctions to those who support them Putin. But it seems that Xi Jinping also longs for the 20th century.. Especially his first half. However, we have to wait and see Communist Party Congress. It is discussed whether China it leans toward its leader’s political ambitions rather than economic outcomes, which ultimately grew the giant and which are now at risk.
Kazimiera Mika weeps in front of the lifeless body of her sister Andzia, who was murdered by Nazi troops in Warsaw, Poland in September 1939 (Julien Bryan)
But it’s not the only silence. At Latin America nobody raised his voice against it Putin. Alone Ivan Herzogthe Colombian President communicated with Zelensky few days ago to express their solidarity and offer their support. Other leaders prefer to avoid humanitarian engagement. They don’t want to offend their Russian friend. They fear the ambassadors. To such an extent that last March 31, almost under the radar, many countries in the region voted in favor of a resolution in the United Nations measure up Moscow. In it, they rejected the use of sanctions as an instrument of political deterrence. Argentina, Bolivia, Cuba, Honduras and Venezuela raised their hands along with Russia. You’re welcome, Putin.. Brazil, Paraguay and Mexico They showed a little more courage: they abstained. Obviously there are other 20th century nostalgics in the region as well.
Also this Sunday Pope Francisco made a very brief statement on the Ukrainian refugees. He forgot to condemn the cruel practices of the troops of Putin. He spoke of war and not of invasion. He also had a mathematical error: he was referring to “thousands” of immigrants; it’s millions. wrote: “Thousands of people have had to flee Ukraine because of the war. But many were also forced to leave their homes in Asia, Africa and America. My thoughts and prayers are with them all.“.
However, a more sympathetic reading of the tweet is the Supreme Pope It would allow perhaps to find messages between the lines. He listed places where Russia has great political, economic and military influence. I’m talking about Asia: there Moscow dropped bombs and death Syria, where millions of people had to flee the horrors of civil war that made it possible to remain in power Bashar Al Assad. I’m talking about Latin America: Venezuelaanother partner of kremlin which for years has suffered the bloodshed of millions of emigrants to keep it in the Miraflores Palace Nicholas Maduro. I’m talking about Africa: there the oligarchs sink their euros to seize natural resources.
Putin, his generals and soldiers has shown Bucha What are they made of The worst: There are still layers to be discovered and brought to light. Especially what happens in besieged cities Mariupol or in others yet to be taken over, where the Russians continue their carnage, torture and rapes. These pictures of Bryan from the end of 1939, which humanity thought to leave behind, return in the highest resolution before the silence of those who still long for the 20th century and keep their mouths shut before the most absurd atrocities of the last decades.
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Bucha massacre: Ukraine has recovered 410 civilian bodies after Russian forces pulled out