Russian TV Pundits Fight Over War Footage: 'You're Working for Ukraine!'

Russian pundits recently argued fiercely on state television while discussing graphic footage from the Ukrainian war, with one ultimately accusing the other of "working for Ukraine."

In the video, a voiceover said the scenes show how Ukrainian fighters "dealt" with the residents of a Ukrainian city who were "caught cooperating with Russian troops." But the clip that was being discussed was "intentionally misrepresented," according to Julia Davis, creator of the Russian Media Monitor, which analyzes Russian state media.

"Watch: this is how Russian state TV deals with those who dare to contradict the approved rhetoric: they're hammered and threatened by other participants to the point of reversing their position," Davis wrote in a tweet alongside the clip.

At the beginning of the video, Andrey Norkin, a host of state TV show The Meeting Place, is seen cautioning that young, elderly and pregnant viewers should not watch the violent footage about to be shown.

"Well, who wants to negotiate with them?" Norkin asked after the clip ended, referring to the Ukrainians.

Nikolay Rybakov, the leader of the Russian United Democratic Party Yabloko, replied: "No one will negotiate with them."

But he went on to say that an investigation should take place to determine if war crimes were committed. "Regarding the horrific video you've shown, in all of these cases there should be an investigation in order for it to be recognized and trusted. There should be an international investigation," he said.

Another pundit then scoffed at Rybakov's remarks, while Meeting Place co-host Ivan Trushkin told him: "If you spoke these words prior to February 24th, perhaps it would have been possible. After we have shown this footage, to sit there and call for an investigation, we're past all that. That would apply yesterday. People who are doing that have to be destroyed."

Pundit Andrey Sidorchik said: "We're dealing with a Nazi machine which is killing and will be killing people. When it gets to the Russian territory, mass extermination and genocide will start. If anybody thinks these are just general words, not at all."

Later in the program, Boris Nadezhdin, a former member of the State Duma, the lower house of Russia's parliament, said that Ukrainians are sharing similar footage on social media and alleging that the atrocities were committed by Russian soldiers.

"You could endlessly show this footage, but if you endlessly open up the Ukrainian Telegram channels, you will find megatons of the same videos, just in reverse," he said.

This prompted Sidorchik to raise his voice in anger. "What? Are you serious?" he yelled. "Is there a single confirmed one? Will you be held responsible for your words? What you just said is fake about the armed forces of the Russian Federation."

When Nadezhdin said he was "not trying to assert whether it's true or not," Sidorchik yelled, "You just voiced it with your disgusting tongue!"

As the heated exchange continued, Nadezhdin told Sidorchik to "calm down," to which he replied, "I'm about to calm you down, dearest!"

"This footage is horrific, [those] who did this are war criminals, undoubtedly. I just want to say that those who started this special military operation opened up Pandora's box," Nadezhdin said. (Russian President Vladimir Putin to February's invasion of Ukraine as a "special military operation.")

Nadezhdin added: "Our opponents in the West and in Ukraine are showing the same. I'm not saying it's real, it's probably fake. Whatever they're showing are certainly fakes, but they're doing it as well.

"As long as those in charge of TV, Telegram channels, on both sides will be showing this kind of footage...escalation and incitement to hatred, which includes showing this, by their side and ours, won't lead to peace, unfortunately," he said.

The other pundits then continued to hammer Nadezhdin for his remarks.

"You're working for Ukraine over here!" Sidorchik said. "That's what you're doing!"

Nadezhdin fired back: "I'm working for Russia. The faster we end military activities, the less harm will be caused to our motherland."