"We hope we were able to help a lot of soldiers" – "Dozhd" about the Russian army

The host of the Russian TV channel "Dozhd" expressed hope that the channel's team is being helpful to the Russian army.

A excerpt from their broadcast was published by Ukrainian activist Serhiy Sternenko.

"If you have evidence or witnesses that could testify to how the mobilization is being carried out, the conscripts serving in the combat areas and being sent to the front line, and you want to share it, to speak about the issues within the Russian army, send a letter to [email protected] or text our Telegram bot. We answer almost everyone and many of the stories that are being sent to our email and to the Telegram bot end up published. We hope we were able to help a lot of soldiers. With equipment and basic necessities on the front line, for example. Because the stories that the relatives are posting and telling, frankly, are terrifying," said the presenter.

After the excerpt went viral online, the TV channel's editor-in-chief Tikhon Dziadko said that it had been removed from the broadcast.

"This phrase implies that 'Dozhd' is providing assistance to the Russian army. In this regard, it is important to note the following: 'Dozhd' did not, does not, and will not engage in aiding the Russian army with equipment, on the front line or elsewhere. The [email protected] mailbox was created to collect personal testimonies about the Russian army's crimes in Ukraine and the violations committed in the course of the criminal and senseless mobilization in the Russian Federation.

"It is necessary to spread the word about this, so that the general public realizes the criminal nature of the Russian leadership's actions since February 24, 2022. All Russian citizens, including the military personnel and the conscripts, should know the truth about the criminal and despicable war," Dziadko wrote.

It should be noted that "Dozhd" is a Russian TV channel that calls itself a Latvia-based independent international Russian-language broadcaster. In Russia, it has been officially included in the "foreign agents" list.