Some Russians Say Lavrov has Gone to Burundi to Get War Elephants to Fight in Ukraine

Paul Goble

            Staunton, June 1 – Given that Burundi is hardly a major power, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s visit there has sparked speculation among Russians that the only explanation is that Russia’s chief diplomat hopes to sign an accord guaranteeing a supply of war elephants and rhinos to Moscow for use in the war against Ukraine.

            That is just one of the anecdotes Russians are telling each other now, according to a collection assembled by Moscow journalist Tatyana Pusharyova (publizist.ru/blogs/107374/45938/-). Among the best of the rest, most of which focus on the drone attack on Moscow, are the following:

·       Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin who escaped unscathed from the attacks said “thank you to Comrade Putin for our stable, peacefully, joyful and happy life.”

·       After the drone attack, Moscow elites are taking great pride in having come under fire.

·       The drone attack confirms the Kremlin’s view that Moscow must continue the war. After all, Russians have only one option: if beating their heads against a wall fails, they nonetheless must continue to do so.

·       Russians shouldn’t be complaining about drone attacks. After all, if it weren’t for Putin, NATO tanks would already be rolling through the streets of Moscow. Anyone who whines should be given ten years in the camps, and the Duma will soon make that so.

·       Moscow police announced the launch of Operation Typhoon to defeat the drone attack, using the same name for their operation that Hitler did when he planned to seize Moscow. The next step will be for the Kremlin to announce that its plan to stop the Ukrainian counter-attack will be called Operation Barbarossa.

·       The Russian military is putting up picture of those who effuse to fight, failing to understand that in the future, the descendants of these men will view such things as walls of honor.