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The front between Ukraine and Russia barely moves. And every day many soldiers lose their lives in trench warfare. For Alfred Koch (62), who assisted Boris Yeltsin (1931-2007) as deputy prime minister until 1997, one thing is clear: the war was a big mistake. “Russia, Russia. what have you done to yourself My God,” he wrote in a shocked message on Telegram. And he finds drastic words: “You ruined everything.”
Koch was part of the Russian government before Vladimir Putin (70) came to power. Meanwhile, he no longer recognizes his country. What Putin’s soldiers did in Ukraine was terrible. “There isn’t a crime they haven’t already committed.” This destroyed Russia’s reputation forever.
Koch shows that the Russians have not had any real successes. The captured villages would not impress anyone. Only ruins would remain, showing how fierce the fighting was.
“The war will continue until they get out of there”
Koch describes what a fatal mistake it was to annex regions like Luhansk or Zaporizhia in the Donbass. “They must be defended at great cost, because no one in the world recognizes their right to these areas and they have been told in no uncertain terms that the war will continue until they are gone.”
The magnitude of the catastrophe will only become clear to citizens later. “How will you, my former fellow citizens, bear the burden of all your crimes?” he wonders.
In revenge, out of a desire to expand, Russia squandered all its wealth. Koch denounces: “Your life, the life of your children. The respect of the rest of the world. your future.”
«Russia is a small, moderately developed country»
Koch has spent 45 years in Russia and says he still loves the country and the people there. That’s why it hurts him to see the country go down.
Putin still describes Russia as an emerging world power – which is why the West would have conspired against it. And many believe it. According to Koch, Russia’s heyday is over. “Russia is a small, moderately developed country with poor infrastructure and an archaic economy.” Because Russians are usually poorly educated and have few qualifications. That’s why the Kremlin’s “propaganda magic” still works.
Koch has lived in Germany since 2015 and also received German nationality. After the annexation of Crimea, Koch repeatedly criticized the Russian authorities in public and on social media. He posts a daily update on his thoughts on the war on his Telegram channel. On the 380th day after the invasion, his words are clearer than ever: “The lives of a whole generation of Russians have been flushed down the toilet!”
Source: Blick

I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.