Russia Sends Meat Grinders to War Widows: Trolling or Propaganda?
In a controversial move, Russia’s United Russia party gifted meat grinders to mothers of fallen soldiers, a gesture widely criticized online due to the term’s association with Russia’s brutal war tactics in Ukraine. The party defended the gifts, claiming a mother requested one, but the action sparked outrage given the high death toll among Russian soldiers, estimated by independent sources to be at least tens of thousands. The double meaning of “meat grinder” highlighting the callous disregard for human life in the conflict fueled the public backlash. The party’s explanation, however, is contradicted by numerous reports indicating significant Russian casualties in the war.
John Q. Hosedrinker