I conducted an experiment on Saturday and it worked according to plan – which has left me somewhat dismayed as we try to piece together fact and fiction in search of truth concerning the war in Ukraine.
Bias In The Ukraine War And Why Travel Is Necessary
You see a lot of so-called “clickbait” on Live and Let’s Fly, but it is almost always concerning in-flight disturbances. When it comes to more serious matters, I prefer a less sensational approach. But on Saturday I ran with a story on Russian President Vladimir Putin ordering his family into a bunker amid reports that he had ordered nuclear drills. I also focused on the Russian doomsday plane, a “flying Kremlin” that can support the continuance of government in the event of a nuclear attack. I also cited western intelligence sources that Putin appears to be increasingly unstable.
> Read More: Russian “Doomsday” Plane On Standby As Putin Orders Nuclear Drills
I wouldn’t call it my Orson Welles moment, but “doomsday plane” is clickbait gold and the post was well-trafficked, as expected. However commenters, some Russian trolls and others more regular readers, noted the sourcing for the story was sketchy. Indeed, it was (even though Putin did oversee nuclear drills last month). And yet give anyone a piece of truth with some potential exaggeration and people are prone to believe it.
I’m not anti-Russian: I wish the Russian people would rise up against their corrupt leader. I question whether harsh sanctions and flight bans do more harm than help, even as I note that any change in Russia must be internal.
But I do have friends and contacts in Ukraine. The war is real. The destruction is real. Many have lost all their material possessions. Families have been separated. There is no evidence that Ukrainians were conducing ethnic cleansing in eastern Ukraine such that a Russian invasion was justified.
Sure, Russian concerns over NATO knocking at its door were not wholly unreasonable. After all, can you imagine Russian forces amassing in Mexico? It would be a no-go for the USA. Yet Ukraine had rejected NATO and was only drawn further West by hostility from Russia. Putin’s paranoia exacerbated tensions greatly, creating ties between Ukraine and the West that otherwise would no have existed prior to the invasion of Crimea in 2014.
And yet I’ve listened and read news over the last few weeks that is overtly pro-Ukraine. That’s propaganda too, even if it happens to support the side I am rooting for. It reminded me of the non-critical early U.S. coverage of the Iraq war.
I had a friend recently who visited Moscow. Western media reported that credit cards no longer worked, but his worked fine. Western media reported that the Kremlin had blocked Facebook, but it was not blocked, even without a VPN. Sometimes the West is just as guilty as Moscow in weaving together a narrative that we want rather than the narrative that actually captures the reality that exists. He reported that Moscow was surprisingly calm…as if nothing was out of the ordinary.
We see the destruction in Ukraine – those pictures don’t lie. And it strikes me as beyond belief that Ukraine would destroy its own infrastructure. Thus, placing the blame on Russia for its wanton destruction fully discredits its self-description as liberators.
And we have seen over and over how dissent is punished in Russia (just ask Alexei Navalny). Putin himself sent a chilling message to dissidents last week:
“Any people, and especially the Russian people, will always be able to distinguish the true patriots from the scum and the traitors, and just to spit them out like a midge that accidentally flew into their mouths.”
But even so, let’s not give up on questioning news and performing our own due diligence.
Travel remains as important as ever in breaking down barriers and better understanding people. Indeed, travel would give me a better understanding of the situation in Ukraine – something I desperately seek. More broadly, travel might show Russians that the Kremlin is lying about “nazi” behavior in Ukraine but also show us here in the West that most Russians are just trying to survive like we are.
CONCLUSION
Is Putin considering using nuclear weapons? I think that’s reasonable considering some of his recent statements. I’d also like to think he is still a rational actor and that if he does go crazy, an internal coup will stop him from destroying the world. But I’ve come to realize that as repugnant as I find Putin, we’re often getting sensationalized propaganda fed to us as well. That’s regrettable. That’s why I travel – I want to see things for myself.
Well, foreign issued credit cards are supposed to work there. My friend is using VPN to be able to use Facebook in St.Pet.. Basic goods are disappearing from the shelves in the stores. You are talking about brutal dictator who in 22 years took away all the little liberties they gained in the 90s. Murdered, jailed and threw out of the country countless people. Started several brutal wars including against his own citizens. Brutally invaded Ukraine. “Liberated” Kharkiv and Mariupol – those are very Russian speaking cities. Kharkiv must have been 90% Russian ethnically and almost 100% Russian speaking. I am not sure what propaganda you are listening to. Some people claim the Earth is flat. Putin claims he is a liberator.
Thank you.
Matt, I understand my comments need to be moderated. If it’s not to late, I wish for a retraction. I love your blog and will continue to read it. I applaud your forum for open discourse. Sadly, I’m not up to it. But thank you. Travel is an education. I once was honored to be able to. Take care!
Matthew,
“Both companies [Visa&mastercard] explain that any transactions made with Mastercard or Visa cards issued by banks in Russia won’t work outside of Russia, while any cards issued by banks outside of the country won’t work at Russian merchants or ATMs”. That means, that Russia-issues cards will work *inside* Russia only.
Facebook is indeed blocked in Russia (the court meeting was today), although you can access it through VPN. Also it’s a criminal offence now to work for or pay for Meta’s services (like advertisement) since Meta is extremist organization, according to Russian authorities
100% in agreement with Boris (commenter above). Do we (collective West + Ukraine) use propaganda? Totally yes. And it’s of high importance at times of war.
In contrast, I do have something against Russians. Individual Russians are often less honest.
There is a Russian that was in the news for speeding at over 125 mph. I looked him up just now. He runs a marijuana shop and also complains online.
My comment is true but not very nice so deleting it is best.
Ukrainians are also corrupt. There is a twitter post of a Ukrainian politicians wife declaring 40 million dollars in cash, suitcases full of them, at border control with Hungary.
And we are bailing out ukraine. First flog those corrupt f$cks on live TV.
Nice post…balanced. Like your end comment. See things for yourself. We could go further of course.
I watched UKRAINE ON FIRE recently. Removed from Youtube after being up for 6 years. Why is that? Learning about
OPERATION BARBAROSSA from WW2 might be insightful too. I also saw PUTIN’S PALACE by Navalny.
I used to think like you did re: understanding and world traveling. No longer.
Many people travel all over the world, they’re as ignorant / biased / greedy as ever…like Russian / Ukraine Oligarchs.
How are they in the understanding department? Many folks in the “top 5% (or 1)” travel all over, how’s the social pyramid
doing? Getting steeper. [With that said, some do reflect deeper and change more profoundly. You sound closer to this]
Western MSM is incredibly biased for a specific reason, better not to mention here. These journalists, etc…travel all
over, but they maintain allegiance to a certain group. GROUPthink. We saw this during COVID…brutally so.
“Understanding via world travel” is pointless if you just become more arrogant / blind / greedy. Empty word –
understanding. (Not saying you, but others) And what kind of travel? Staying at luxury hotels all the time?
Flying in luxury all the time? Doing regular tourist things? Just meeting other like-minded folks / similar class folks
(politicians for example, or many business people)?
PRIDE. That’s the root of arrogance and ignorance and corruption. Has biblical connection, but that’s
another story. it’s in Russia, Ukraine, USA, EU, everywhere. Rich & poor. Smart & not so smart.
How many world travelers take PRIDE in being “worldly? well educated? financially well off?”
Look at the CORRUPTION PERCEPTIONS INDEX. See how low most countries score on telling the truth.
See which region (Scandinavia) scores the highest, least corrupt. What do they have in common? [i’ll just tell you,
Jante Law] Also more financially balanced. What is Jante Law? Look it up, think about it.
But even Jante Law is not the answer…but it’s a clue on which direction to go.
All lies lead to heartbreak.
A reckoning is coming soon…before the end of the decade. There’s a bigger plan, and we’re about to enter the next
chapter.
Oh don’t worry about Putin….watch China-Taiwan. But later this decade.
— The true voyage of discovery is not in going to new places, but in seeing with new eyes. — Marcel Proust
Don’t over think it. Before I was disabled, I traveled to learn. Luckily, I had the honor of passing the love of travel to my granddaughter. Keep it simple, leave what you see on FB and youtube out of it. Not everything is a conspiracy. Remember the joy of being in another culture. It’s that easy.
With this war, food insecurity will grow, oil prices have already shot up.
Already i see many losers begging for free money again. I have said before and i will say it again, any couple with more than 2 kids should be castrated. It’s always the losers who live on the edge, who can’t afford kids that pop out multiple kids.
This world has too many people and too many losers procreating.
Balanced? Schmalanced. SHAME ON YOU.
You fall for the Russian disinformation Tactic #1: False Equiovalency, or “What-About-ism”
NATO is getting too close for Putin’s comfort, the US would act the same…
Bullshit. NATO has never invaded it’s neighbors. Russia? You want a list of the dozen neighbors they have invaded in the past few years alone?
“Oh, we are just as bad…” Really?
This country has done some awful things. Far too many times. When we do, it gets corrected, eventually — through political pressure, elections, public demonstrations and other (usually) non-violent means – you know, it’s called Democracy. Democracy is messy, it’s complicated, it’s hard work, and it takes longer than it should, but the rule of law eventually does bend the arc of the moral universe toward justice.
In Russia? Not so much. Change comes when somebody in the Kremlin puts a bullet in the head of the Mafia known as the Russian government.
If you think the two sides are equivalent, put your orange hat on proudly, and go live in Russia, asshole. The term that applies here is “a useful idiot.” Blood on your hands.
That’s strong language. I’m not making an equivalency at all – except to say that both sides employee propaganda.
And I do believe that NATO is a force for good, not evil. That doesn’t mean a former super power wants it moving further east. The U.S. Monroe Doctrine doesn’t depend upon the intentions of the foreign power.
Well, Matt you are trying to justify the aggressor. When did Ukraine pose any threat to RF? NATO states have been bordering RF for decades. So, how come Russia did not decide to invade Norway or Baltic states which are NATO members? That crazy maniac in Kremlin only understands power, he chose weak target which turned out not be that week. So, he switched to be= bombing hospitals, shopping malls, stadiums. If we do not take down that psycho he will turn against NATO members like Poland and Baltic states, so we will have to get involved anyways. It’s like 1939 all over Stalin and Hitler conquering Europe but this time Putin is all by himself.
Those hospitals and shopping malls were filled with Ukrainian Mobile grenade launching systems as the Ukrainian military and militias took over hospitals and civilian facilities to use for military operations, sometimes with civilians forced to remain inside them. You are buying the western propaganda.
Nato has expanded from the end of the Cold War to having nearly every country in Europe (excepting a few like Switzerland) in it. Ukraine is right in the backyard of Russia and abuts it.
Millions of Ukrainians voted for independence in two majority ethnic Russian regions in east Ukraine bordering Russia. Ukraine did not respect people having self determination and instead shelled them for 8 years killing 20,000 civilians because slavery was more important to the Ukrainian government than freedom.
With the state Europe is in where it’s natural and native population is being replaced by foreigners, Christianity is a crime (people have been arrested for reading from the Bible in public and for saying the Bible is the truth relating to homosexuality in Finland. Look it up) , speech is crime, and lgbt propaganda is pushed on 3 year olds in preschool, anything is better than the status quo.
“Millions of Ukrainians voted for independence in two majority ethnic Russian regions in east Ukraine bordering Russia. Ukraine did not respect people having self determination and instead shelled them for 8 years killing 20,000 civilians because slavery was more important to the Ukrainian government than freedom.”
Not quite how it happened.
https://abcnews.go.com/International/ukraine-separatist-regions-crux-russian-invasion/story?id=83084803
“With the state Europe is in where it’s natural and native population is being replaced by foreigners”
Nonsense. To say replaced suggests that for every immigrant who come to Europe, someone local from there is being kicked out. That isn’t happening.
“Christianity is a crime”
No it isn’t. Is there any country in Europe that has a law that says Christianity is a crime? Using Christianity to promote your own hateful views is a crime since that is promoting hate speech while using Christianity and/or the bible as a shield for those hateful views.
“speech is crime”
It isn’t. But hate speech is a crime.
“lgbt propaganda”
If asking for dignity, equality, and a right to live without fear is propaganda, then I guess it is propaganda?
Strong words…from a strange man
SHAME is a terrible feeling. It causes people to HIDE things. It causes people to LIE.
Shame is a component of PRIDE. A hidden component. More common in Asian countries. But everywhere of course. It causes people to look away. Liars look away.
It even affects how big people’s eyes visibly are…that’s why many Asians and older people (who accumulate shame) have narrower eyes. But certain Asian countries have less shame and bigger eyes — do you know which ones?
How does immigration affect the emotional values of a country? Ever thought about it?
I know first hand….because my eyes used to be more narrow. But I’ve gotten rid of SHAME largely.
PRIDE is the root of HATE and JEALOUSY.
And AN-GER. AnGRY –> In CRY. C=G (Cat=Gat-o in Spanish)
Look at younger photos of Putin vs today. What facial features have changed the most? Look at yourself? Your children, your parents.
What do you Re-GREt? Look up etymology on Merriam Webster. GRE/CRY. Re-gret means to CRY again. Emotional baggage. Unresolved emotions. Something “$cience” knows pretty much nothing about…cause if “it” did, we would all be peaceful.
What is Putin / Russia crying about?
I recommend History Channel – Seven Deadly Sins. Oldie but goodie.
Look at all those medals hanging from all those military uniforms, surprised some of those top generals don’t fall over. More in the news from Russia of late, but really, any country. Look at all the people with fancy titles and suits (And padded expense accounts) in fancy cars living in fancy homes shuttling around trying to make peace, or claiming they are peacemakers. Pride in a different form. Same same, but different, you know, that Thai saying. [Do I sound worldly? hahahaha] How much $$$ has the USA printed in the last 10 years? White collar criminals…
everywhere in America. Soon, they’ll get reWARded. Sometimes white collar MENTAL crime leads to blue collar ACTIONS.
Ever seen yourself unreversed in real time? Check out the TRUE MIRROR…..you might not like what you see.
How can you expect others to be peaceful if you are not?
This was good post for a number of reasons. Yes, there are two sides to the story. It’s unfortunate innocent Ukrainian and Russian civilians have to suffer.
“I wish the Russian people would rise up against their corrupt leader.”
Do you feel the same about Western leaders who ordered Christians arrested for going to church during Covid or European governments that imprison people for speech; telling the truth is considered a criminal offense in Europe if it offends select groups, but of course Christians are not one of them.
Do you feel the same about the Rich Oligarch Zelenskyy who has led a corrupt government and discriminated against Russian speaking Ukrainian citizens? Zelenskyy has now banned 11 political parties and put the media under his control.
What about Trudeau who adopted dictatorial powers to seize bank accounts of citizens who donated $25 to people protesting government tyranny? 45% of people in Canada consider Trudeau a brutal dictator who is enslaving and harming the public.
“Do you feel the same about Western leaders who ordered Christians arrested for going to church during Covid”
Not the same thing, your religious beliefs don’t give you special preference during a pandemic. Back then everyone was supposed to avoid gatherings of that nature, even if it ended up with Christians whining about it more than anyone.
Comparing that Putin sending people to prison just for criticizing is a false comparison.
“telling the truth is considered a criminal offense in Europe if it offends select groups”
Such nonsense.
“Trudeau who adopted dictatorial powers to seize bank accounts of citizens who donated $25 to people protesting government tyranny?”
They freeze it, they don’t seize it. Get your recycled talking point propaganda correct…
“45% of people in Canada consider Trudeau a brutal dictator who is enslaving and harming the public”
Where are you getting this particular nonsense from?
“Travel remains as important as ever in breaking down barriers and better understanding people. Indeed, travel would give me a better understanding of the situation in Ukraine – something I desperately seek.”
Eh, not really. Even if it was more than staying in a points hotel and coffee-shop hopping, most traveling will just give you at best a superficial understanding of people and their country. When people travel they aren’t usually spending enough time in that country to really get a true understanding of how things are there. To truly break down barriers, you need to actually live there for at least a few months (say, three to four).
Matthew, you said it well in your conclusion: “… as repugnant as I find Putin, we’re often getting sensationalized propaganda fed to us as well.”
Hear hear.
I couldn’t have said it better myself.
The admitted use of “clickbait” to attract readers to your blog, which used to be about travel, is bad enough, but now this is apparently your forum to offer political opinions on a variety of subjects for which you do not seem to be qualified. If I want informative insight from a variety of perspectives, I’ll read the NYT and WSJ. Your views on the world, especially when compacted into a 30 second blogpost, come off as amateurish, uninformed, and usually wrong. Stick to reviewing reheated airline food. You have a real skill there.
I do no like hypocrisy.
The earlier comment “NATO has never invaded it’s neighbors” might raise the eyebrows of the Serbs who had the hell bombed out of them ref Kosovo. Libyans aren’t too keen on the statement either….just sayin’
Ukraine now knows how it feels to be in Syria’s shoes in 1967…Israel starts a war, and seizes the Golan Heights, later to annexe it. Still waiting for the US to say one word about it….(sound of crickets chirping).
Biden calls Putin a “War Criminal”…this one has three punchlines.
1. US refusing to hand over Bush and Cheney to the ICC for starting a war of aggression.
2. US doesn’t recognise jurisdiction of ICC for themselves, but happily calls for it to be applied to others.
3. So far no reports of Russian torture. Abu Ghraib or Guantanamo anyone?
Russians “targeting civilians”. Hmmmm…..how selective were those little firecrackers at Hiroshima and Nagasaki in distinguishing between civilians and combatants? The 408 dead civilians in the Amiriyah air-raid shelter were not killed by Russian munitions but good ‘ol US made and dropped GBU-27 Paveways.
I am not saying that Russia going into Ukraine is correct or legit, just that the rhetoric applies both ways.
You make some good points particularly regarding Serbia and Libya. Indeed, if Ukraine hadn’t given up their nukes for safety guarantees in 1991, they wouldn’t be in Syria’s shoes. A few quibbles for the public record:
1. It appears that the Bush administration opposed the ICC jurisdiction although he may have supported it when it suited him.
2. Sort of applies to 1. Need more data.
3. Er, yes, there are reports of Russian torture. Eastern Ukrainian separatists since 2014 have tortured Ukrainian POWs to death and even bragged about it.
I do agree that the Hiroshima, Nagasaki (and heck, Dresden) bombings were barbaric, IMO, although the Imperial Japanese method of fighting didn’t appear to subscribe the Geneva convention.
Although I don’t know if anyone is still reading this, I would share with Matt that my life’s dream is to circumnavigate the globe particularly on the Trans-Siberian railroad. For that reason, and others, i hold no hate in my heart for Russians just as I don’t hold hate for a guest at my wedding whose brother died in the battle of Stalingrad (on the German side.)
Travel makes us appreciate the difference between politics and people.
With a 5 year old daughter, I don’t think I’m going to make this journey soon, particularly not with her, but when she’s 12 or so I’d love to give it a go. IAD-LHR, chunnel to Paris, Paris train to Basel, Basel to Krakow, Krakow to Gdansk, Gdansk ferry to Helsinki, Helsinki to St Petersburg, St. Petersburg trans-siberian to Beijing, Beijing to Vietnam (have a surfing trip that needs done), and onto Tokyo, Hawaii, then to California, and back.
I’ll burn about 6 weeks vacation to get it done.
War destroys beautiful places, and people. I hope for a positive outcome daily. Poles are praying in marathon sessions for peace.