this post was submitted on 13 Apr 2024
212 points (98.6% liked)

World News

39032 readers
3293 users here now

A community for discussing events around the World

Rules:

Similarly, if you see posts along these lines, do not engage. Report them, block them, and live a happier life than they do. We see too many slapfights that boil down to "Mom! He's bugging me!" and "I'm not touching you!" Going forward, slapfights will result in removed comments and temp bans to cool off.

We ask that the users report any comment or post that violate the rules, to use critical thinking when reading, posting or commenting. Users that post off-topic spam, advocate violence, have multiple comments or posts removed, weaponize reports or violate the code of conduct will be banned.

All posts and comments will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. This means that some content that violates the rules may be allowed, while other content that does not violate the rules may be removed. The moderators retain the right to remove any content and ban users.


Lemmy World Partners

News !news@lemmy.world

Politics !politics@lemmy.world

World Politics !globalpolitics@lemmy.world


Recommendations

For Firefox users, there is media bias / propaganda / fact check plugin.

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/media-bias-fact-check/

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
 

Since the start of the war over two years ago, a discreet network of unofficial Russian volunteers like Demidenko has sprung up that have helped tens of thousands of Ukrainian refugees displaced by the war to get out of Russia. Many of the Ukrainians were forcibly deported to Russia or ended up in the country after finding no safe way to travel west into Ukraine. The volunteers, often ordinary anti-war Russians looking for ways to express how they feel about the conflict, operate largely through word of mouth and groups on the Telegram messaging app.

On the drive to the border, Demi­denko distracted her “with anecdotes about life and history of the towns we passed,” Primak recalled. “It was something extraordinary. This man I have never met before made me feel at ease. His love of life was infectious.”

Upon reaching the border, the two bid farewell to each other. Demidenko gave his number, telling Primak her family was always welcome once the war was over. But Primak was never able to thank him for his help. Demidenko died last Friday in pre-detention custody in Belgorod where he had spent six months awaiting trial on charges of illegal gun possession, which his family and friends say were politically motivated as retribution for his volunteer efforts.

MBFC
Archive

all 9 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 52 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Imagine the hard-as-fuck titanium balls you must have to help Ukrainians out of Putin's Russia after the invasion!

This guy deserves statues.

[–] IvanOverdrive@lemm.ee 4 points 7 months ago

There always that one downvote when you speak the truth.

[–] Gloria@sh.itjust.works 38 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

His name was Alexander Demidenko.

His name was Alexander Demidenko.

[–] ChunkMcHorkle@lemmy.world 6 points 7 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

deleted by creator

[–] sandman@lemmy.ca 24 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Demidenko died last Friday in pre-detention custody in Belgorod

Wow.

[–] vlad76@lemmy.sdf.org 16 points 7 months ago

Russia has a jail that you go to if you're suspected of a crime to keep you from running away. It's insane. I read news every day of people during in those facilities. There are so many people being detained right now for everything from helping people escape to simply commenting on posts against the government.

[–] newnton@sh.itjust.works 22 points 7 months ago

Rest in peace hero

[–] autotldr@lemmings.world 5 points 7 months ago

This is the best summary I could come up with:


After living over a year under Russian control in the southern Ukrainian town of Novaya Kakhovka, Primak, a former shopkeeper, decided in June 2023 that she could no longer bear foreign occupation.

The volunteers, often ordinary anti-war Russians looking for ways to express how they feel about the conflict, operate largely through word of mouth and groups on the Telegram messaging app.

Demidenko died last Friday in pre-detention custody in Belgorod where he had spent six months awaiting trial on charges of illegal gun possession, which his family and friends say were politically motivated as retribution for his volunteer efforts.

People who knew Demidenko, fellow volunteers and Ukrainian refugees whom he has aided, portray him as a man of unwavering commitment to helping those in distress, despite the risks faced in wartime Russia.

To make ends meet from a meagre salary, Demidenko sold foreign language textbooks on the side, a job through which he met his wife, Natalia Vishnevskaya, in 2014.

On social media, he rallied against taxi drivers who charged big sums to drive refugees to the border, while also claiming that officials had been demanding money for fast-tracking people through the queues.


The original article contains 1,226 words, the summary contains 194 words. Saved 84%. I'm a bot and I'm open source!