Scant details exist about this encounter, but a now-viral video is circulating that shows an alleged Russian pilot condemning the war in Ukraine during his pre-flight announcements. See the video here.
Readers are cautioned that not much is known about this encounter, but a video that has now gone viral on several social media platforms is circulating. The video shows an alleged Russian airline pilot that works for Pobeda Airlines, expressing his support for ending the war in Ukraine. Pobeda Airlines is a low-cost airline and subsidiary of Aeroflot.
The video, presumably taken by a flight attendant or fellow pilot, given the angle of the shot, is given in both Russian and English. During the pre-flight announcement, he expresses an opinion on the war that includes him noting the message is from him and not the airline and the war in Ukraine is a crime. He states, in the difficult to understand video, that we should not continue the war and should stop it immediately. His comments are met with a round of applause from passengers on the plane.
The date and time or location of the video are unknown, as are many other details about the incident, but if true, it shows an incredible amount of courage by a man who is almost certain to face imprisonment in his home country of Russia. Dissidents and protesters of the ongoing war in Ukraine have been arrested by the truckload in places like Moscow and face serious prison terms for their protests in the oppressive Russian regime.
Commenters on the video have offered various opinions on the event including some of these more interesting statements:
You can have a captive population or a loyal one, not both. A captive population will never truly rest. Eventually the people will feel less threatened by the oppression of the state than enticed by the benefits of emancipation. We are witnessing this in process. Russian state propoganda cannot change the fact that now over 2000 Russian children will never return home to their mothers. As that number grows, Russia’s hold on their population will inevitably weaken. Here’s hoping the heroes who engage in these acts of rebellion survive to see Russia remade in their image.
Obligatory “this is dangerous” or “RIP” or “off to the gulag” comment. Start normalizing this behavior. Dissent against a tyrannical government should be lauded. Big respect to the Russians who aren’t afraid to speak out against the war. People need courage to do these things, and the sentiment that their dissent will be meant with harsh and cruel punishment is exactly what Putin wants. Rest in peace to the innocent people who’ve died at the hands of these aggressors.
Balls of titanium on this man. I’m glad so many Russians have been speaking out. It really gives me hope personally.
