'Words are our weapon': video mocking Ukrainian separatists goes viral

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/apr/17/ukraine-russia-separatists-mirko-sablic-viral

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A Ukrainian group is making waves online with satirical musical parodies decrying Russia’s support for separatists in eastern Ukraine. The group, which goes by the name of Mirko Sablic, was created several months ago to counter what it calls Russian “propaganda” about the deadly conflict in Ukraine’s east, where fighting erupted once again last week. “We don’t take part in military action. We don’t know how to shoot,” group member Yevhen Tatarchenko said. “Words are our weapon.” Mirko Sablic has already authored a string of clips, each of which has drawn tens of thousands of viewers.

Related: 'Doubt everything' – Ukrainian students' warning to Russian counterparts

The group writes its own songs and uses a collage of Soviet film excerpts and footage from war-torn eastern Ukraine to illustrate them. Mirko Sablic’s latest clip is titled Novorossia Anthem, in reference to the name separatists in Donbass give to the land in southern and eastern Ukraine they say they are seeking to control. So far it has been viewed more than 70,000 times.

The song is a spinoff from March of Stalin’s Artillery, a famous Soviet-era song paying tribute to the Red Army.

The spoof anthem blames Russia – and Putin personally – for stirring up separatist sentiment in eastern Ukraine and arming the rebels.

“Separatists, Putin gave an order!” the refrain goes. “Mobs of convicts will receive instructions on how to beat captives, on how to torture the injured.” Another clip posted last month, Anthem For Ukrainian Donbass, takes aim both at the pro-Russian separatists and at Lyube, reputedly Putin’s favourite band:

In the three-minute clip, Lyube’s front man Nikolai Rastorguyev – who is also a lawmaker with the ruling United Russia party and a loyal Putin supporter – is dubbed, making him appear as if he is performing the staunchly anti-separatist song. The video obviously riled Lyube, whose producer succeeded in having the video taken down from YouTube, albeit temporarily.

It was later posted back on the video-sharing site, accompanied by a warning from Mirko Sablic that further attempts to block its clips will be met with “a new parody of the songs of each plaintiff”.