On the 81st anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Japan
On the 81st anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Japan, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova criticized Hiroshima Mayor Katsuyuki Matsui for referencing Russia's actions in Ukraine during a memorial speech without mentioning the United States, which dropped the atomic bomb on the city in 1945. Zakharova accused Matsui of promoting 'Russophobia' and repeating a 'false mantra,' while other sources noted that both Matsui and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi omitted any reference to U.S. responsibility.
Consensus
- The event took place on August 6, marking the 81st anniversary of the atomic bomb attack on Hiroshima.
- Hiroshima Mayor Katsuyuki Matsui delivered a speech at the memorial ceremony.
- Matsui criticized Russia's actions in Ukraine during his speech.
- Matsui did not mention the United States as the country that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima.
- Maria Zakharova, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, criticized Matsui's speech in her Telegram channel.
- Zakharova claimed Matsui repeated a 'false mantra' and 'zombified' Japanese citizens with 'Russophobic incantations'.
- Zakharova stated that Russia had suffered from Japanese aggression on the Far East and remembered the Hiroshima and Nagasaki tragedies as examples of inhumanity.
- The United States dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, and another on Nagasaki three days later.
- The exact number of victims in Hiroshima is unknown, but estimates range up to 140,000 by the end of 1945.
- The memorial ceremony was held at the Peace Park in Hiroshima, built on the site of the former Nakadzima district destroyed by the bombing.
Points of divergence
- Military correspondent Dmitry Steshin criticized Matsui's speech as demonstrating 'historical amnesia' and noted that Soviet-era children sincerely sympathized with victims by making paper cranes in memory of Sadako Sasaki. — vesti
- U.S. President Donald Trump previously referred to the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki as a 'small conflict' and noted that U.S.-Japan relations have remained strong for a long time. — vm
- Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi also omitted any mention of the United States in her speech at the same event. — m24
- The number of victims in Hiroshima was estimated at 70–100,000, and 70,000 in Nagasaki. — kommerant
Coverage (9 sources)
- Zakharova accused the mayor of Hiroshima of 'Russophobia' over words about the war in Ukraine — ЭХО / Новости
- Steshin criticized Hiroshima mayor for lack of US mentions — Вести
- Zakharova: The mayor of Hiroshima is brainwashing the Japanese with Russophobia — РИАМО
- Zakharova points to "racist spells" of Hiroshima mayor and silence on US crimes — Коммерсантъ
- Zakharova accused the mayor of Hiroshima of 'Russophobic brainwashing' of the Japanese — Вести
- Zakhrova: Hiroshima mayor zombifies Japanese with Russianophobic spells — Вечерняя Москва
- The Russian Foreign Ministry regarded the mayor of Hiroshima's statements about Russia as false — Интерфакс
- Mayor of Hiroshima criticized Russia on the anniversary of the bombing but did not mention the USA — Вечерняя Москва
- Zakharova criticized Hiroshima mayor Matsumoto for words about Russia — Москва 24
Key entities
- Hiroshima
- Russia
- USA
- Maria Zakharova
- MID
- Ukraine
- Moscow
- Telegram channel
- Far East
- INTERFAX.RU
- RIA Novosti
- TASS
- RT
- Photo
- Dmitry Stepanov
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