Latest news with #SiegeofLeningrad
Kuwait Times
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Kuwait Times
‘Hurt': Leningrad Siege survivor charged over peace placard
SAINT PETERSBURG, Russia: Lyudmila Vasilyeva, 84, survived the Siege of Leningrad in World War II as a child. Now, the Russian pensioner faces prosecution for calling for peace in Ukraine and says she feels 'hurt' over what her country has become. Like thousands since Russia launched its military offensive in February 2022, she has been charged with 'discrediting' the armed forces and is due in court on Friday. 'Bitterness. That's what I feel. I'm unbearably hurt, unbearably hurt for the country,' she told AFP in an interview in her Saint Petersburg apartment. Dressed in a burgundy cardigan with patterned trim, she displayed the object at the centre of her legal troubles—a handwritten placard with a simple message. 'People, let's stop the war. We are responsible for peace on the planet Earth. With love, Lyudmila Vasilyeva, child of the Leningrad blockade.' In March she had stood on the street holding it in front of her. More than three years into Russia's offensive on Ukraine and an escalating domestic crackdown, such an act was enough for prosecutors to bring charges against Vasilyeva. She faces a fine of up to 50,000 rubles ($620) for the administrative breach—relatively lenient compared to the years-long jail sentences handed out to some who have criticized the Ukraine offensive in stronger terms and faced criminal punishment. Russia's military campaign has left tens of thousands dead—including many Russian soldiers—and seen Moscow's army extend its control to around a fifth of Ukraine's territory. At home, Moscow introduced military censorship and has escalated a crackdown on those who criticize the offensive. Amnesty International, which Russia outlawed earlier this week, said laws against 'discrediting' the army have 'been used to criminalize the expression of any opinion critical' of the military campaign. Vasilyeva is unapologetic. 'I have always been someone who is not indifferent, from childhood. I have always been on the side of the weak,' she said. Two elegant cats were frolicking among her books. On the wall hung a portrait of her mother, who survived the siege with Lyudmila and her four siblings. 'Mum always said: 'We will get through everything, as long as there is no war',' Vasilyeva said. The Siege of Leningrad—the Soviet-era name of Saint Petersburg—began in September 1941 and lasted 872 days. Between 600,000 and 1.5 million people died, most from hunger, before the Red Army eventually broke the siege in January 1944. It has totemic importance for many Russians, including President Vladimir Putin, whose brother died in the siege and who was himself born in the devastation of post-war Leningrad. Vasilyeva said her mum 'donated blood to get extra food rations'. The experience has influenced how she sees the Ukraine conflict. 'We always talked about peace. Remember what happened so that it never happens again. And what are people saying now?' since authorities put down a wave of street protests in February 2022, when Russia launched its offensive, signs of domestic opposition have largely subsided. Putin says the whole of Russia is behind the campaign, and pro-offensive voices and prosecutors cast dissenters as outliers to be punished and ostracized. – AFP
France 24
22-05-2025
- Politics
- France 24
'Hurt': Leningrad Siege survivor, 84, charged over peace placard
Like thousands since Russia launched its military offensive in February 2022, she has been charged with "discrediting" the armed forces and is due in court on Friday. "Bitterness. That's what I feel. I'm unbearably hurt, unbearably hurt for the country," she told AFP in an interview in her Saint Petersburg apartment. Dressed in a burgundy cardigan with patterned trim, she displayed the object at the centre of her legal troubles -- a handwritten placard with a simple message. "People, let's stop the war. We are responsible for peace on the planet Earth. With love, Lyudmila Vasilyeva, child of the Leningrad blockade." In March she had stood on the street holding it in front of her. More than three years into Russia's offensive on Ukraine and an escalating domestic crackdown, such an act was enough for prosecutors to bring charges against Vasilyeva. She faces a fine of up to 50,000 rubles ($620) for the administrative breach -- relatively lenient compared to the years-long jail sentences handed out to some who have criticised the Ukraine offensive in stronger terms and faced criminal punishment. Russia's military campaign has left tens of thousands dead -- including many Russian soldiers -- and seen Moscow's army extend its control to around a fifth of Ukraine's territory. At home, Moscow introduced military censorship and has escalated a crackdown on those who criticise the offensive. Amnesty International, which Russia outlawed earlier this week, said laws against "discrediting" the army have "been used to criminalise the expression of any opinion critical" of the military campaign. 'Always' with the weak Vasilyeva is unapologetic. "I have always been someone who is not indifferent, from childhood. I have always been on the side of the weak," she said. Two elegant cats were frolicking among her books. On the wall hung a portrait of her mother, who survived the siege with Lyudmila and her four siblings. "Mum always said: 'We will get through everything, as long as there is no war'," Vasilyeva said. The Siege of Leningrad -- the Soviet-era name of Saint Petersburg -- began in September 1941 and lasted 872 days. Between 600,000 and 1.5 million people died, most from hunger, before the Red Army eventually broke the siege in January 1944. It has totemic importance for many Russians, including President Vladimir Putin, whose brother died in the siege and who was himself born in the devastation of post-war Leningrad. Vasilyeva said her mum "donated blood to get extra food rations". The experience has influenced how she sees the Ukraine conflict. "We always talked about peace. Remember what happened so that it never happens again. And what are people saying now?" since authorities put down a wave of street protests in February 2022, when Russia launched its offensive, signs of domestic opposition have largely subsided. Putin says the whole of Russia is behind the campaign, and pro-offensive voices and prosecutors cast dissenters as outliers to be punished and ostracised. "There are lots of decent people. But they have been scared," said Vasilyeva, a veteran of Russian opposition movements She saw the period of perestroika in the late 1980s -- Mikhail Gorbachev's reforms designed to open-up and revitalise the stale Soviet system -- as a "window to freedom". 'People can influence' After the Soviet Union collapsed, she joined the liberal Democratic Choice party, founded by reformist prime minister Yegor Gaidar. "I have always participated in all opposition meetings," she said proudly. "Let people live and choose for themselves what they want. Don't impose anything on them please," she said. It was in that spirit that her placard appeal was aimed not at the authorities but at her fellow Russians. "It is the people who can influence and stop (the war) and I addressed them," she said. Russia calls its campaign against Ukraine a "special military operation". Public calls for peace -- even without explicit references to Ukraine -- are essentially outlawed. But Vasilyeya, who faces a fine and the possibility of harsher punishments if she is charged again, is unfazed. "I'm 84 years old. I'm not afraid." © 2025 AFP
Int'l Business Times
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Int'l Business Times
'Hurt': Leningrad Siege Survivor, 84, Charged Over Peace Placard
Lyudmila Vasilyeva, 84, survived the Siege of Leningrad in World War II as a child. Now, the Russian pensioner faces prosecution for calling for peace in Ukraine and says she feels "hurt" over what her country has become. Like thousands since Russia launched its military offensive in February 2022, she has been charged with "discrediting" the armed forces and is due in court on Friday. "Bitterness. That's what I feel. I'm unbearably hurt, unbearably hurt for the country," she told AFP in an interview in her Saint Petersburg apartment. Dressed in a burgundy cardigan with patterned trim, she displayed the object at the centre of her legal troubles -- a handwritten placard with a simple message. "People, let's stop the war. We are responsible for peace on the planet Earth. With love, Lyudmila Vasilyeva, child of the Leningrad blockade." In March she had stood on the street holding it in front of her. More than three years into Russia's offensive on Ukraine and an escalating domestic crackdown, such an act was enough for prosecutors to bring charges against Vasilyeva. She faces a fine of up to 50,000 rubles ($620) for the administrative breach -- relatively lenient compared to the years-long jail sentences handed out to some who have criticised the Ukraine offensive in stronger terms and faced criminal punishment. Russia's military campaign has left tens of thousands dead -- including many Russian soldiers -- and seen Moscow's army extend its control to around a fifth of Ukraine's territory. At home, Moscow introduced military censorship and has escalated a crackdown on those who criticise the offensive. Amnesty International, which Russia outlawed earlier this week, said laws against "discrediting" the army have "been used to criminalise the expression of any opinion critical" of the military campaign. Vasilyeva is unapologetic. "I have always been someone who is not indifferent, from childhood. I have always been on the side of the weak," she said. Two elegant cats were frolicking among her books. On the wall hung a portrait of her mother, who survived the siege with Lyudmila and her four siblings. "Mum always said: 'We will get through everything, as long as there is no war'," Vasilyeva said. The Siege of Leningrad -- the Soviet-era name of Saint Petersburg -- began in September 1941 and lasted 872 days. Between 600,000 and 1.5 million people died, most from hunger, before the Red Army eventually broke the siege in January 1944. It has totemic importance for many Russians, including President Vladimir Putin, whose brother died in the siege and who was himself born in the devastation of post-war Leningrad. Vasilyeva said her mum "donated blood to get extra food rations". The experience has influenced how she sees the Ukraine conflict. "We always talked about peace. Remember what happened so that it never happens again. And what are people saying now?" since authorities put down a wave of street protests in February 2022, when Russia launched its offensive, signs of domestic opposition have largely subsided. Putin says the whole of Russia is behind the campaign, and pro-offensive voices and prosecutors cast dissenters as outliers to be punished and ostracised. "There are lots of decent people. But they have been scared," said Vasilyeva, a veteran of Russian opposition movements She saw the period of perestroika in the late 1980s -- Mikhail Gorbachev's reforms designed to open-up and revitalise the stale Soviet system -- as a "window to freedom". After the Soviet Union collapsed, she joined the liberal Democratic Choice party, founded by reformist prime minister Yegor Gaidar. "I have always participated in all opposition meetings," she said proudly. "Let people live and choose for themselves what they want. Don't impose anything on them please," she said. It was in that spirit that her placard appeal was aimed not at the authorities but at her fellow Russians. "It is the people who can influence and stop (the war) and I addressed them," she said. Russia calls its campaign against Ukraine a "special military operation". Public calls for peace -- even without explicit references to Ukraine -- are essentially outlawed. But Vasilyeya, who faces a fine and the possibility of harsher punishments if she is charged again, is unfazed. "I'm 84 years old. I'm not afraid." Moscow has introduced military censorship over the Ukraine conflict AFP The siege of Leningrad, then St Petersburg, began in September 1941 and lasted 872 days AFP Vasilyeya faces a fine and the possibility of harsher punishments if she is charged again AFP
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- General
- Yahoo
On This Day, Jan. 27: Soviets liberate Auschwitz
Jan. 27 (UPI) -- On this date in history: In 1606, the surviving conspirators in the "Gunpowder Treason" plot to blow up the English Parliament and the king of England on Nov. 5, 1605, were convicted. They were executed four days later. In 1785, the first public university in the United States was founded as the University of Georgia. In 1888, The National Geographic Society was founded in Washington. In 1926, Scottish inventor John Logie Baird launched a revolution in communication and entertainment with the first public demonstration of a true television system in London. In 1944, the Soviet army lifted the Siege of Leningrad, a more than 2-year occupation of the Russian city by Nazi forces in which more than 1 million civilians died or went missing. In 1945, the Soviet army liberated the Auschwitz network of concentration camps in Poland, freeing some 7,000 survivors. Months later, four Jewish young women told United Press correspondent Edward W. Beattie Jr. how they used rouge to during their captivity to avoid being killed along with other prisoners who looked too ill to work. In 1967, U.S. astronauts Virgil "Gus" Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffee died in a fire aboard the Apollo 1 spacecraft during a launch simulation at Florida's Kennedy Space Center. In 1973, the United States and North Vietnam signed a cease-fire agreement following lengthy Paris talks between U.S. national security adviser Henry Kissinger and Vietnamese negotiator Le Duc Tho. The same day, the United States announced an end to the military draft. Although the mission officially ended in 1973, the Vietnam War would not be over until April of 1975. In 1984, singer Michael Jackson sustained a burn on his scalp during the filming of a soft-drink commercial. In 1987, U.S. President Ronald Reagan acknowledged mistakes and accepted responsibility in the Iran-Contra arms scandal. In 1991, U.S. planes bombed pipelines to Kuwaiti oil fields to cut off the flow of oil into the Persian Gulf. In 1996, France conducted an open-air nuclear test in the South Pacific. In 1998, in his State of the Union address, U.S. President Bill Clinton hailed the fact that the federal government would have a balanced budget in 1999 -- the first in 30 years. In 2002, a series of explosions at a military depot in Lagos, Nigeria, killed more than 1,000 people. In 2011, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced it was replacing the nationwide color-coded, terror-alert scale with a system that would focus on specific terror threats to potential targets. In 2013, fire at the overcrowded Kiss nightclub in Santa Maria, Brazil, killed more than 230 people, most of them victims of smoke inhalation. About 170 others were injured. In 2017, President Donald Trump signed his first executive order banning travel to the United States for people from seven mostly Muslim countries, prompting protests and multiple lawsuits. In 2024, Royal Caribbean's 1,198-foot-long Icon of the Seas, the world's largest cruise ship with a gross tonnage of 250,800, set sail on its maiden passenger voyage from Miami. The ship features 20 decks and can hold about 10,000 people.
