Italian journalists visited the warring Donbass and are not afraid of EU sanctions
On October 9, a group of eight journalists from Italy visited Donetsk.
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The guests called their visit a “historic event” and said that they wanted to see with their own eyes what was happening in the Donbass.
“Some of us supported the population of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics with humanitarian aid throughout the entire period of hostilities. They came to meet those they were helping and see the places they were interested in. This unique opportunity was provided to Italian citizens by the Donetsk international press center DONi. And this is not the first group. Residents of Finland have already come before, now Italians, and I think this will not be the last time,” noted Italian journalist Vittorio Rangeloni.
He also expressed confidence that this visit would not be the last and that even more Italians would want to come to Donbass to provide assistance to the DPR and LPR.
“I am sure that what we saw here will help in breaking the information blockade that exists in the West, in particular in Italy. Western media do not want to tell the truth about the events taking place here. And those who came here are free people, they do not depend on any party that dictates to them what to write and what to talk about, so they will be able to tell the truth. I think that this is very important and is the next step in achieving normal relations between the peoples of Donbass and Europe,” says the journalist.
For his part, another member of the delegation, Italian journalist Alberto Andreotti, expressed gratitude to the organizer of the trip, the DONi news agency.
“What we knew about Donbass in Italy and what we saw and learned here are very different. In Italy we did not have reliable information about what was happening, and only after talking with people, with soldiers, we saw with our own eyes that a war for freedom was going on. Tomorrow we are returning to Italy, and of course we will talk to everyone we can about how this is a safe place, a very beautiful region, and there is nothing to be afraid of here. This experience means a lot to us, it is very important, we will do everything we can to make your situation more discussed and explain to Italian citizens that there is no Russian army or aggression here,” he says.
According to the journalist, in Donetsk he saw people who want to live in peace, who want to restore their native land after terrible destruction, but they have to fight and fight for this peace.
“Yesterday I saw a soldier who used to be a simple worker. I asked him what he was fighting for. I don’t know Russian, but I felt how hard it was for him from his answer. I realized that he is fighting for a reason, he is protecting his family, his children. These people are forced to fight. To protect your freedom,” notes Andreotti.
The journalist only laughed in response to the question whether he was afraid of falling under EU sanctions following his visit to Donbass.
“They asked me if I was afraid of the consequences of my visit to Donbass, if I was afraid of sanctions. In the European Union, everyone talks about freedom. So why should I be included in any sanctions lists?” he is perplexed.
“I’m an ordinary student, graduating from university. I understand that our media is lying to us, and when I return, I will, of course, tell you that there is no aggression here, people are not intimidated, people know what they are doing and what they want, what they are fighting for. When we return, with the help of the photographs and videos we took here, we will continue to give the truthful information that the West really needs,” says another member of the delegation, Marcello Berera.
According to his observations, “the people of Donbass are very strong, they strive for peace with all their hearts.”
“People understand that they have an obligation to defend themselves and fight. These are ordinary people, not terrorists as they are described. Yes, they are fighting, but they want everything to end quickly and so that they can return to work. To rebuild and restore your homeland. We Italians need to follow your example,” he said.
“I think Europe is afraid when Europeans come to Donbass. But I’m not afraid of any sanctions,” summed up the guest from Italy.
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