Footage has emerged of an American man embedded with Russian troops invading Ukraine; or as he describes them, 'denazifiers and liberators'.
We're now on the sixth day of Russian president Vladimir Putin's 'special military operation'. While Russian Armed Forces have made 'little progress' towards Kyiv, more than 130 civilians have lost their lives as a result of the conflict, according to the UN, and 'at least' 70 Ukrainian soldiers were killed after Russian artillery hit a military base in Okhtyrka.
When Putin first declared war, he said he was pursuing the 'demilitarisation and denazification of Ukraine', spreading the false narrative of Nazi elements within Ukraine to justify the attack.
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'Dear comrades! Your fathers, grandfathers, great-grandfathers did not fight the Nazis and defend our common Motherland, so that today’s Neo-Nazis can seize power in Ukraine. You took an oath of allegiance to the Ukrainian people, and not to the anti-national junta that plunders Ukraine and abuses its people. Don’t follow its criminal orders. I urge you to lay down your weapons immediately and go home,' Putin said in his speech, as per Al Jazeera.
A clip has since been shared to Twitter of a US man standing alongside Russian military, with the 'denazifiers and liberators of Ukraine... these guys are tough, these guys are ready, and there's plenty of them.'
'So far, Russia has used about 10% of its military power and we're getting ready to bring the hammer down. These guys are going to save and liberate tall the good people of Ukraine,' he continues, before adding with an air-kick, 'And the bad people... kick their ass.'
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This man is Russell Bonner Bentley III, a Texan who's immersed himself in Putin's feeble operation on 'Nazis' since 2014, and has committed himself to fighting against so-called Ukrainian fascism, becoming a reputable 'foot soldier in Russia's information war', according to an interview with Texas Monthly.
At first, he was praised for his skills in combat. 'Texas showed himself to be a good, hardy fighter, and an excellent machine gunner,' a local newspaper even wrote - and then came his first appearance on Russian state media. 'I felt a responsibility to come here and show the people of Donbas and the world that not everyone in the United States supports the fascist government of the United States that supports the Nazi government of Ukraine,' he said.
Bentley's pledge to the 'people's republic' of Donetsk is stronger than ever. 'As of today, I have a new country. If the US starts World War III, I’ll fight on this side, and I’m happy to see the US destroyed just like Germany was', he earlier said.
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If you would like to donate to the Red Cross Emergency Appeal, which will help provide food, medicines and basic medical supplies, shelter and water to those in Ukraine, click here for more information
Topics: Russia, Ukraine, World News
Cameron Frew