“Rare insight into the Russian occupation”: German TV channel gets shitstorm for contribution from Mariupol

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Mariupol became a symbol of Russian aggression in Ukraine in the spring of 2022. The world witnessed terrible suffering and catastrophic destruction. Much of the city on the Sea of ​​Azov was razed during the three-month siege. Ultimately, Mariupol fell to Vladimir Putin’s troops (71).

The German TV channel ZDF broadcast a report from the occupied city on Monday. The article also appeared online, with the title: “Rare insight into the Russian occupation”.

He saw “a lot of destruction” in the city, ZDF correspondent Armin Coerper (52) says in the article. But he also observed “a lot of rebuilding.” “Schools and entire apartment buildings” are currently under construction. The journalist makes it clear that the TV crew cannot “completely” portray the situation in Mariupol and speaks of “snapshots”. “That does not mean that we recognize this Russian occupation. “But I think it’s important to get an idea on the ground,” he explains, explaining his motivation for the report.

Not everyone can understand Coerper’s argument. There is a lot of criticism on social media.

“Contribution normalizes Russian occupation”

Eastern Europe expert Sergej Sumlenny spoke about X. He starts his topic with an insult. “The ZDF man speaks as if someone had put a Kalashnikov in his rectum.” He was particularly furious about the issue of the schools that Russia was supposedly building. “He speaks again about new schools that the Russians are said to have built in Mariupol, where they killed more than 100,000 civilians. What on earth is this, ZDF?” The message is “mere propaganda”.

Coerper’s journalist colleague Peter Althaus (“Berliner Kurier”) is also disappointed with the report. Not only is what is said partly wrong – he claims – what is not said is even worse. «The ZDF colleague reports that they can move freely. This may be. Yet there are no free discussions there and certainly no criticism of Russia towards a foreign TV crew. People expressing support for Ukraine in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories would be “rounded up and deported.”

However, if you watch the TV report, you can hear that Coerper is very aware of these circumstances and tackles them as such. “Those who speak openly to us are probably more pro-Russian. If there are people who are pro-Western, they are probably much more reserved and fear reprisals.”

Krista-Marija Läbe, spokeswoman for an association of Ukrainians in Germany, reacted with horror. “The article normalizes the Russian occupation,” she says.

The broadcaster defends itself against criticism

How does ZDF deal with the criticism? A spokesperson told ‘Focus’: ‘ZDF takes the criticism of reporting from Mariupol seriously.’ Armin Coerper wanted to gain an independent picture of the situation in the areas occupied in Mariupol in violation of international law. Coerper has shown that opponents of the Russian occupation must fear reprisals if they contact Western journalists.

“In its reporting from Ukraine, ZDF has never left any doubt that Mariupol was territory illegally occupied by Russia,” the broadcaster continues to defend itself. According to the television channel, it has also become clear who is the attacker and the victim in this war. Another reporter reported in the same program from Odessa about the Ukrainians’ view of the Russian-occupied territories.

However, the broadcaster admits that a formulation by the head of the Moscow ZDF studio, according to which the city functions, was a “misunderstanding”. What that really meant was that Russia tried to go to great lengths to give the impression of normality.

Source: Blick