Karlovy Vary Latest European Fest To Weigh In On Ukraine Conflict: No Boycott, But Anyone Associated With Russian State Will Be Banned

Editors note: Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has had tragic consequences for the Ukrainian people, and the wider ramifications of the conflict are only beginning to be understood. As the West imposes economic sanctions on Russia, the country is facing a period of isolation unseen since the Cold War. Deadline invited one high-profile Russian producer to pen a column discussing their perspective on the situation. At their request they are being kept anonymous for fear of reprisal from Putin’s government as it cracks down on free speech.

Sacha Baron Cohen has called out social media platforms for not blocking Russia’s state TV network amid the country’s invasion of Ukraine.In a post on Twitter, the actor criticised the CEOs of Facebook, Twitter, Google and YouTube – Mark Zuckerbeg, Parag Agrawal, Sundar Pichai and Susan Wojcick respectively – and urged them to remove the network RT from their platforms.“Putin just bombed a children’s hospital, but @Facebook, @Instagram, @Twitter & @YouTube are still showing Russia’s state-run RT,” Cohen wrote.“Why are you profiting off Putin’s propaganda?! Remove Russia RT from your platforms NOW!”Hey Mark, @paraga,@sundarpichai, @SusanWojcicki Putin just bombed a children’s hospital, but @Facebook, @instagram @Twitter & @YouTube are still showing Russia's state-run RTWhy are you profiting off Putin's propaganda?!Remove Russia RT from your platforms NOW! pic.twitter.com/W0wkWKAZpX— Sacha Baron Cohen (@SachaBaronCohen) March 9, 2022NME has reached out to representatives for all the respective companies.As posted on the updates blog for Meta – the rebrand of Facebook who also own Instagram – the company states they have restricted access to RT and Sputnik in Ukraine, the UK and across the EU.In an update on March 1, the blog reads: “In addition to restricting access to RT and Sputnik across the EU, we are now globally demoting content from Facebook Pages and Instagram accounts from Russian state-controlled media outlets and making them harder to find across our platforms. “We have also begun to demote posts that contain links to Russian state-controlled media websites on Facebook.

British soldiers travelling to Ukraine to fight against Russia have been issued a warning by the government and Armed Forces.

A small number of UK troops have defied orders and may have gone to Ukraine to help fight against the Russian invasion, the British Army stated tonight.

Salford's mayor has called on the government to sanction Gazprom and to make it easier for councils to exclude the Russian gas firm from the usual contract tendering process.

“You are looking at live pictures of a fire that has broken out at a Ukrainian nuclear power plant in the town of Enerhohrad after an attack by Russian troops,” said CNN’s Erin Burnett tonight in what could literally be the most explosive story out of Vladimir Putin’s invasion of the Eastern European nation so far

Ethan Shanfeld The American branch of Russian state-funded media network Russia Today (RT) is shutting down and laying off most of its staff, CNN reports.According to a memo, RT America will be “ceasing production” due to “unforeseen business interruption events.”“Unfortunately, we anticipate this layoff will be permanent, meaning that this will result in the permanent separation from employment of most T&R employees at all locations,” the memo said (via CNN).Per CNN, Misha Solodovnikov, the general manager of T&R Productions, the production company behind RT, delivered the news in person to hosts, correspondents, producers and others in the Washington, D.C. bureau.

Todd Spangler NY Digital EditorReddit has banned users from posting links to Kremlin-affiliated outlets such as RT and Sputnik, joining a growing number of internet companies in blocking Russian state media amid that country’s attack on Ukraine.“While many communities on Reddit already prohibited links to Russian state media outlets like RT, Sputnik, and their foreign-language affiliates, we have made such restrictions universal across the site in all geographies,” Reddit said in a statement.In addition, the popular discussion-community site said, it will “continue not to accept advertisements that target Russia or originate from any Russia-based entity, government or private.” Reddit said it’s assisting affected employees in Ukraine, including providing advanced income payments and housing allowances and supporting their relocation. Reddit joins other internet media platforms that have restricted or blocked Russian state-controlled media in recent days, including YouTube, Meta, Snapchat and Spotify.“The conflict in Ukraine has been shocking and upsetting,” Reddit said in a March 2 blog post.

Former professional boxer Wladimir Klitschko and his brother, Mayor of Kyiv Vitali Klitschko have vowed to stay in Ukraine to fight against the Russian invasion.

Ginger Zee revealed to fans that while she was in the midst of some exciting career developments, she couldn't help but feel mixed emotions.MORE: Ginger Zee hailed as an 'inspiration' following emotional messageThe Good Morning America star took to Instagram to share a snapshot from Tampa, Florida, where she will be undertaking a special project, although the only thing in the back of her mind was the Ukrainian conflict.WATCH: Ginger Zee's family moments from special meetingWith a snapshot of the sun-soaked Tampa Riverwalk, Ginger expressed: "Can't help but feel conflicted as I take in the sunshine before a special project I'm working on this week— knowing the terror happening in Eastern Europe. "We have donated, prayed…I just wish I could share this sunshine, peace and freedom with them."MORE: Ginger Zee performs epic hair flip after rain-soaked day – watchDONATE NOW: What can you do to help Ukraine?Fans in the comments sympathized with her and shared similar feelings, as one wrote: "I feel the same way — guilty that I can't do more than pray and donate.""There's a particular amount of guilt in our lives as we savor our freedom today… and they cannot. Fortunate to be born and living here, but conflicted.

The European Film Academy (EFA) has joined growing calls in the international cinema community for a boycott of Russian films.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefMeta, the tech giant that controls the Facebook, Whatsapp and Instagram social media platforms, said that it has restricted access to Russian state media within the European Union. The moves are intended to limit the spread of Russian propaganda during the country’s invasion of Ukraine.“We have received requests from a number of governments and the European Union to take further steps in relation to Russian state-controlled media.

Twitter will label tweets that link to content from Russian state-affiliated media websites amid concerns over the spread of disinformation.

The Glasgow Film Festival has withdrawn two Russian titles from its 2022 program in response to Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.