The Russians With Attitude podcast was banned from Twitter last night after the account shared news about an alleged mass surrender of Ukrainian marines in Mariupol.
The RWA podcast, which may be considered controversial due to the Russian nationality of its hosts, gained an intense following in the opening days of the conflict in Ukraine, when they were among the first to cry foul on the Ghost of Kiev, the Snake Island refusal to surrender, and other misinformation promulgated by either the Ukrainian government or individuals in the media.
In a statement posted to their Telegram account, RWA said the ban “was inevitable.”
“The quality of our reporting was too high for this platform. Our translations of primary sources were too inconvenient. Just imagine how bluecheck journos suffered watching us blow up from a small podcast account to a successful independent media outlet in the span of 1 (one) month. With no investors but you, our dear audience. Well, that was just inhumane!” RWA podcast wrote on Telegram.
“We will continue our work on telegram and other platforms. Now with 120% less self-censorship,” they continued. “Banning a twitter account in response to 1026 Ukrainian Marines surrendering in Mariupol – is this what they call ‘combined arms warfare’.”
Ukraine disputes that the surrender took place, and instead claims the troops Russia says surrendered are actually back behind friendly lines supporting the Azov battalion, which was around 10% Nazi at the beginning of the war, per the BBC.
“The surrender is getting the Snake Island treatment,” RWA podcast wrote.
Prior to the ban, their account had amassed nearly 127,000 followers. It is unclear why Twitter banned the RWA podcast account.
The RWA podcast can still be found on Gab and Telegram. The episodes remain available on Patreon.
When ASB Military News – another news provider accused of carrying water for Russia that frequently beats mainstream media on news about Ukraine – was suspended in March, the RWA podcast issued a Gab post directed to them, stating “hey @ASBMilitary big F wish you a speedy follower recovery.”
As Valiant News reported on Tuesday, French war reporter Georges Malbrunot claimed the United States is “in charge” of the Ukrainian military branch of the international volunteer military force known as the International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine, or the Ukrainian Foreign Legion.
In response to the reporters claims that the U.S. is “in charge” of the Ukrainian international volunteer force, the Russians With Attitude podcast tweeted that the news was “Not surprising at all.”
The revelation has led some to point out that the conflict in Ukraine could be seen as a proxy war between NATO and Russia.
“The US military has most likely been in charge of the Ukrainian General Staff for years & ‘Ukrainian military intelligence’ is a joke, it’s just NATO live feeds,” tweeted RWA podcast prior to their suspension.
“The only reason no one admits that Russia and NATO are in an open state of war is fear of nukes.”
Russia invaded Ukraine earlier this year after nearly a decade of tension over the disputed Donbass region in Eastern Ukraine. Moscow claims it launched a “special military operation” to prevent Ukrainians from ethnically cleansing Russians in that region, while Kiev and much of the West claim the invasion was unprovoked.
