From a quiet suburb half a world away from the war, a Russian Kiwi has raised tens of thousands of dollars for Russian soldiers who are illegally invading Ukraine.
Auckland woman Antonina Ovchinnikova runs a Russian language channel on Telegram – an encrypted messaging service – where she posts Russian nationalist propaganda and updates on the invasion of Ukraine.
Ovchinnikova, who has lived in New Zealand for 10 years, has now raised 1.5 million Russian roubles and bought gun sights, machine gun mufflers and even drones for the soldiers.“My dears, I thank you again that you do not remain indifferent and help our fighters,” Ovchinnikova wrote in a Telegram post, with a love heart emoji.
In the posts, the Auckland woman often uses dehumanising language – for example, repeating the Kremlin’s lie that Ukrainians are Nazis. “Without you, your support, the victory would be too long, but with your support it will be very fast,” the soldier said.Tellingly, as Ukraine reclaimed land in an offensive in the country’s northeast, Ovchinnikova began to fundraise for tinned food, helmets and thermal underwear rather than the gun sights of earlier in the conflict.
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