'Not Just Putin's War:' Former US Diplomat Says Many Russians Now Support 'National Extermination Of Ukraine'

 As Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine enters its seventh month now, a former U.S. diplomat said that more and more Russians support Moscow's acts and want to eradicate its war-torn neighbor.

What Happened: Daniel Fried, distinguished fellow at the Atlantic Council and former Ambassador to Poland, in a tweet on Sunday, said, "It's not just Putin's war. Many Russians now support the Kremlin's campaign of national extermination of Ukraine."

"Some Russians now, and I hope more in the future, will look upon this descent into evil with horror and shame," he added.

Fried said this while quoting a tweet from Sergej Sumlenny, a Berlin-based Eastern Europe expert who had posted a video of the Oscar-winning director Nikita Mikhalkov – who heads the Russian Filmmakers' Union and is a staunch supporter of Putin.

 

It's not just Putin's war. Many Russians now support the Kremlin's campaign of national extermination of Ukraine. Some Russians now, and I hope more in the future, will look upon this descent into evil with horror and shame. https://t.co/MZXf2CP4JT— Daniel Fried (@AmbDanFried) August 28, 2022

See Also: Zelenskyy Said Ukraine 'Reborn' When Putin Invaded The Country

In the video, Mikhalkov said, "the Ukrainian language has become the image of Russophobia" and must be exterminated in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, the Putin-led government has been cracking down on Russians criticizing its invasion of Ukraine.

According to the OVD-Info human rights group, More than 224 Russians are facing jail time for calling the conflict a "war" or "invasion." And nearly 16,500 people have been detained across Russia for protesting against it since the beginning of the invasion.

Illustration by Tomasz Makowski on Shutterstock