Interview with Russian Soldiers in Ukraine

Hello. Are you in charge here?

Yes.

Please introduce yourself.

I can't introduce myself.

Why?

Because I can't.

How can you not? You're in military uniforms without insignia.

There are no insignia.

Right.

We don't have insignia.

So—

What kind of military uniform do we have?

I don't know, some kind of nice one.

Yes, new.

New. And which army does it belong to? Which armed forces?

Can't you guess?

No, not at all.

That's all.

It's not my job to guess. It's my job to establish the facts.

And our job is not to say anything. Understood?

Why?

Not to answer your questions.

Then who can I ask what these armed men are doing on the

territory?

What territory? Have you introduced yourself? Who are you, anyway?

I'm a member of the press.

Which outlet?

Ukrstream.

So, local, Ukrainian?

Yes.

Aren't you locals?

We are locals.

Are you Ukrainians?

Us?

Yes.

We're Russians.

Yes, then please explain what the Russian armed

forces are doing here on Ukrainian territory, if you're the commander of this unit.

We're providing security.

What kind?

To prevent terrorist attacks.

Is there information that terror—

There will be.

So?

I don't know. I can't answer your questions,

understand?

And where does that information come from? Someone must be informing you.

Why are you filming like that? Put the camera away.

Wait, there's no need for that.

You're in a public place. Let's not— we were just talking to—

To whom?

The port. Here, on this territory, we have the right to film.

So please explain why your soldiers come up to us

with assault rifles and at the same time forbid us from filming?

Because filming isn't allowed.

On what grounds? Do they know Ukrainian laws?

They're here in a public

place.

Crimean laws apply here.

This is Ukrainian territory.

This is Ukrainian territory.

This is Crimean territory.

Absolutely. It's part of Ukraine.

It's part of Ukraine.

There you go.

That's all.

So, do Ukrainian laws apply here, or Crimean laws?

Ukrainian laws. Why?

Well, Ukrainian law doesn't prohibit filming.

We haven't broken any laws here.

So, uh—

We’re not saying you broke any rules.

You are breaking them. I said you can’t film us.

Why?

Why are you filming?

Well, why?

You’re walking around asking strange questions.

Why are they strange questions? I’m curious.

People ask me

who these armed people driving around are.

What people ask you?

My friends, for example.

Why do you shoot? Why do you have so many weapons?

Who are we going to shoot? We’re not going to shoot anyone.

So what purpose are you here for with so many weapons?

To prevent terrorist acts.

What terrorist acts?

How do you check, like, um, maybe me, right?

How do you determine who's a terrorist?

A terrorist act in Western Ukraine?

Are there such people?

Do you have any information about that?

The kind your men have already encountered here.

I work in the press, I have information.

I haven't found a single terrorist act in Western Ukraine.

If you do, I'd be happy to hear the details and

go check

them. I work in the press, after all. What you're saying now is

just empty words.

Why don't you have any identification markings? Where are you from?

Because that's our uniform, without identification markings.

Are you Ukrainian or Russian?

Russian servicemen.

You are Russian servicemen.

Yes.

What are Russian servicemen doing on Ukrainian territory?

Because. Don't you watch TV?