Putin sends personal tribute to funeral of Kremlin propaganda star killed on Ukraine frontline
Vladimir Putin sent a personal tribute to one of his favourite Kremlin propagandist after she was killed on the Ukrainian frontline. Anna Prokofyeva, 35, died on assignment in the Demidovka border area of Belgorod region, where Ukraine has made incursions.
She was prominent on Russian state TV’s Channel One, a key weapon in Putin’s propaganda machine. Prokofyeva’s was buried at Troekurovskoye Cemetery in Moscow. Wreaths were sent by Putin and his defence minister Andrei Belousova, and she was praised for “courage, heroism and incredible bravery”.
Footage of her war broadcasts played on screens as mourners laid flowers by her coffin. Prokofyeva’s cameraman Dmitry Volkov was wounded in the mine blast and remains in hospital. She was the third pro-war propagandist journalist to die in two days last week, with another seriously wounded.
In her last post she had said she was “somewhere on the border with country 404”. It indicated her view that Ukraine was a country that did not exist.
Her channel said: “Channel One war correspondent Anna Prokofieva died in the line of duty. It happened in the Belgorod region on the border with Ukraine, where the Channel One film crew was blown up by an enemy mine.”
The latest killing on the battlefield comes after Donald Trump said he was “p*ssed off” with Vladimir Putin as their once strong relationship took a turn on Sunday.
Trump repeatedly fumed about Vladimir Putin for questioning Zelensky’s credibility and legitimacy – even admitted he was “p*ssed off” with his Russian counterpart – after Putin insisted this week the war torn country needs new leadership.
This is despite Trump being critical of the Ukraine President, claimed he was “sick” of handling the war and aiding Kyiv.
However, the 78-year-old has has jumped to Zelensky’s defence. In a post on X, the President of Ukraine, said: “Right now, Russia continues looking for excuses to drag this war out even further. Putin is playing the same game he has since 2014.
“This is dangerous for everyone — and there should be an appropriate response from the United States, Europe, and all our global partners who seek peace.”
Mr Zelensky’s message on X, came after Trump warned Russia it could face a new round of harsh economic sanctions for the flub in peace negotiations.
Speaking to NBC host Kristen Welker, Trump said this would include a tariff of between 25 and 50 percent on oil from Russia, as well as a warning to other countries that if they do buy oil from Putin’s country, “you can’t do business in the United States.”
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