Russians accuse Azov Brigade of shootings in pirated translation of The Morning Show: Azov defenders' families react

Russians have distorted the words of a journalist reporting on Russian attacks on Mariupol in a pirated dubbing of the American TV series The Morning Show. 

Episode 4 in season 3 of the Apple TV+ series The Morning Show referred to the war in Ukraine, the attack on a hospital in Mariupol, and the Russian war crimes committed there.

However, when one of the characters says, "The Russians aren’t just bombing the city, they’re shooting civilians on the streets", Russian studio Rudub translated this as "Here they aren’t just bombing the city - the Azov Brigade is shooting civilians in the streets."

Ukrainian TV producer Alexander Rodnyansky pointed this out on social media, and Russian media outlets have reported on it.

Azov defenders' families have reacted to the Russians' attempt to hide the truth.

"This is an example of classic Russian propaganda - an attempt to shift responsibility from themselves to the people who resisted them in Mariupol. When my husband was being held captive in Taganrog, during interrogations, he was asked in all seriousness who bombed Mariupol and the Mariupol Drama Theater.

When he replied that they did, they didn't like that answer very much. It seems that this is an Orwellian situation where good is called evil and evil is called good. And, unfortunately, the Russian population takes this at face value," Yuliia Fedosiuk, Deputy Chair of the Association of Families of Azovstal Defenders, told Ukrainska Pravda.Zhyttia.

What was on The Morning Show?

In this story, photographer Andre Ford travels to Mariupol for the TV company UBA. A few days later, he calls journalist Mia Jordan and tells her what is happening in the city.

In the original, the photographer says: "The Russians aren’t just bombing the city, they’re shooting civilians in the streets." However, in the pirate dubbing, the Russians blame Azov fighters for their war crimes.

Original:

– Where are they evacuating the wounded?

– A military hospital in Donetsk. The Russians are back to shelling the shit out of this place. I’m gonna just stay put for a moment.

– Are you OK? It looks really bad.

– I'm below ground, I’m fine. As long as you can get those pictures out there. Mia, the Russians. It's not just a bombing. They’re shooting civilians in the street.

Russian translation:

- Where are the wounded being evacuated?

- A military hospital in Donetsk. The military is attacking the city.

- Are you OK?

- I'm below ground, it's okay. I hope you get the pictures. Mia, it’s not just the city being bombed here. Azov are shooting civilians on the streets.

The Association of Families of Azovstal Defenders has not yet contacted Apple TV+ to let them know about this. Yuliia Fedosiuk believes that the series' creators will learn about the Russian distortion from publicity in the media.

"We didn't think about writing a separate letter. In fact, we also need to realise that a limited number of people in Russia will hear this voiceover.

Although I support the fact that Ukraine should work even with the Russian population, I think these people have already been turned into zombies by watching Russian television. So it doesn't add anything or take anything away," Fedosiuk said.

The most intense period of the defence of Mariupol lasted about three months, until the defenders of Azovstal were ordered to leave the steelworks. 

Throughout this time, the Russians attacked the city continually, killing civilians. In particular, on 9 March, the Russian invaders dropped several powerful bombs that hit a maternity hospital and a children's hospital in the centre of Mariupol.

On 16 March, the Russians dropped a super-powerful bomb on the Mariupol Drama Theatre, where local people, particularly children, were hiding. Mariupol City Council said at least 300 people were killed as a result, but journalists have established that the Russian terrorist attack may have killed 600 people. 

For reference: The Morning Show is an American television series about the behind-the-scenes goings-on at TV channel UBA, starring Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon and Steve Carell. It began airing on Apple TV+ in 2019.

Read also: Russia holds sham trial of 22 Azov Brigade members – Associated Press

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