Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine has been universally condemned by the European Union, members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and other western nations.
Even Putin's own citizens have shown up in droves to decry his escalation of tensions between Russia and the fledgling democratic nation that formed from the U.S.S.R.'s collapse in 1991. Thousands of Russians have protested in the streets, risking arrest to make their opposition heard.
One of the Russian citizens protesting the war, Marina Ovsyannikova, went viral for her demonstration. An editor for the state-friendly Channel One, she interrupted her own network's broadcast to condemn Putin's invasion and the network's flattering coverage of it.
Watch below.
A woman burst onto Russia’s main live evening newscast today with a sign that says:
“Stop the war
Don’t believe propaganda
They’re lying to you”
And chanting: “Stop the war! No to war!”pic.twitter.com/pKVKZFVEM3
— max seddon (@maxseddon) March 14, 2022
Ovsyannikova's sign read in Russian:
"Stop the war. Don't believe the propaganda. Here they are lying to you." It is signed in English: "Russians against the war"
Ahead of the protest, Ovsyannikova recorded a video statement, detailing that her father is Ukrainian and her mother is Russian, and that "they have never been enemies."
Marina Ovsyannikova, the woman who ran onto a live state TV news broadcast, even recorded a message beforehand. In it, she says her father is Ukrainian. She calls for anti-war protests, says she’s ashamed about working for Kremlin propaganda, and she denounces the war absolutely. pic.twitter.com/nOpUY9bH74
— Kevin Rothrock (@KevinRothrock) March 14, 2022
She also apologized for her work at Channel One, according to a loose translation from human rights lawyer Natalia Krapiva, saying:
"Unfortunately, during these past years I have been working at Channel One, involved in Kremlin propaganda. I am very ashamed of this. Ashamed because I allowed lies to be told from the TV screen. Ashamed because I allowed the Russian people to be turned into zombies."
She went on to urge her fellow Russians to protest, reminding them "they cannot put us all in jail."
There's been a global outpouring of support for Ovsyannikova, including a message of thanks from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
According to her lawyers, Ovsyannikova went missing since being arrested by Russian authorities, but later resurfaced after a 14 hour interrogation..
There was widespread concern for her well-being, as there are decades of examples conveying the Putin regime's often violent retaliation against dissidents.
Marina Ovsyannikova, who interrupted a Russian TV news bulletin to protest against Putin's war, is now missing.
She has been denied access to lawyers and faces up to 15 years in prison.
To Russians resisting Putin, at great personal cost: you are heroes and we stand with you. pic.twitter.com/PXoJKAJCsY
— Nadia Whittome MP (@NadiaWhittomeMP) March 15, 2022
Where is #MarinaOvsyannikova ? https://t.co/iHnReSRO0s
— Cannalove (@Cannalove2) March 15, 2022
I had a feeling this was going to happen to that brave and courageous woman. Hoping and praying she's doing OK. May God protect her. #StopTheWar https://t.co/UPXmR9xYpf
— Crypto Wizard (@cryptowizard771) March 15, 2022
#MarinaOvsyannikova Let’s pray for her safety. To protest against a dictator, and his criminal war, is truly brave and selfless. Her safety and rights are not guaranteed. We are with you Marina. 🇺🇦 https://t.co/8HZZAvzqzQ
— 🍜 Rae Solden 🥧📚 🇺🇸🇺🇦 (@RachelSolden) March 15, 2022
This good person didn't 'do nothing'. Brave brave lady, I hope with all my heart that she is OK. https://t.co/pdN8nLRIeS
— Dame Cristiona Maire (@CristionaMaire) March 14, 2022
Social media users were moved by her statement, including the apology she issued for her role at the network, and praised her bravery.
#MarinaOvsyannikova this bravery & incredible courage! https://t.co/uQhCYscWAl
— Lena (@Szal_Ona_Lenka) March 14, 2022
Thank you. This gives mit hope in humanity. https://t.co/wjidSzmwin
— Tania Schellenberg (@TaniaSchell) March 15, 2022
These Russians are very brave. They know what Putin does to people who are critical of him. https://t.co/U16qNjOkpa
— D223 (@daniel_d223) March 15, 2022
If we can only match this act of courage and bravery. #MarinaOvsiannikova https://t.co/f9cphHMDpR
— 🌻sampaguita ll 🇨🇦 🌻🇺🇦 (@Sampaguita_II) March 14, 2022
UPDATE, 03/15/2022:
An earlier version of this article stated that Ovsyannikova was missing. After a 14 hour interrogation and Russian officials preventing her from speaking with lawyers, Ovsyannikova has since resurfaced, being released and fined.
First comments from Ovsyannikova: 14-hour interrogation, denied her access to lawyers, she’ll talk more tomorrow after some sleep. She speaks English at the end of this video. https://t.co/egj49jhyqa pic.twitter.com/IxXO08vrTW
— Kevin Rothrock (@KevinRothrock) March 15, 2022
She will make further comments on the situation tomorrow.
