**Russian State Media: A Look Beyond Georgia’s Immediate Stories**
Moscow Calling, a feature in Civil.ge where we dive into the world of Russian state media and explore its implications on our region. For 24 years, we’ve been monitoring these outlets to bring you a deeper understanding of what’s happening beyond Georgia’s immediate stories.
**Russian Foreign Ministry Reports Civilian Casualties in Ukraine War**
In a rare move, Russia’s Foreign Ministry has announced civilian casualties during the war with Ukraine. According to Rodion Miroshnik, the special envoy, at least 478 civilians were injured in April, including 21 minors, and 59 people died, including 5 minors. This is a significant departure from Moscow’s previous reluctance to disclose losses during the conflict.
However, when compared to the Ukrainian side’s estimate of over one million Russian casualties since February 2022, this number seems almost trivial. It remains to be seen whether Russia will continue to provide more accurate assessments of its losses in Ukraine.
**Slovenian President Calls for Restored Relations with Russia**
In a surprising move, Slovenian President Nataša Pirc Musar has called the EU’s refusal to engage in dialogue with Russia a “mistake.” She proposed creating a group of “wise men and women” to conduct “quiet diplomacy” with Moscow. This comes as Russian officials periodically express their desire for dialogue despite ongoing fighting in Ukraine.
The EU’s stance on Russia remains unchanged, but it’s intriguing to see European leaders re-evaluating their approach to engaging with Moscow. Will this lead to a renewed push for diplomatic efforts or simply further division within the bloc?
**Margarita Simonyan Worried About Trump’s Policies**
Russian propagandist Margarita Simonyan has expressed concern about US President Donald Trump’s policies, claiming they could put his life and health at risk. She compared him to John F. Kennedy, who she believes was more cautious in his approach.
The irony here is that Russia often criticizes Western leaders for being too soft on Ukraine, while now worrying about the potential consequences of a US president taking a more aggressive stance.
**Russian Houses Frozen: Patrushev Warns of NATO Threat**
In other news, Russian presidential aide Nikolai Patrushev has stated that NATO’s growing naval presence and intelligence capabilities pose a significant threat to Russia. This comes as the Estonian Navy, supported by NATO aircraft, attempted to detain a civilian vessel carrying Russian cargo in the Gulf of Finland.
Meanwhile, the Russian “military correspondent” Yevgeny Poddubny has reported the elimination of an American former Marine in Ukraine, claiming he was working with Ukrainian forces. These developments highlight Russia’s ongoing efforts to shape public opinion and undermine its adversaries through various means.
**Putin Addresses People of Georgia on WWII Anniversary**
On a separate note, Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed the people of Georgia in a message marking the 80th anniversary of World War II. While the message itself was standard fare, it serves as a reminder of Russia’s continued efforts to engage with and influence neighboring countries through various channels.
As always, we’ll continue to monitor these developments and bring you insights into the world of Russian state media.
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