A zoo in Russia announced on social media that it had sent two peacocks to Ukraine “to brighten the daily lives of soldiers at the front”, but then deleted the post due to comments insulting Vladimir Putin.
Lipetsk Zoo in southwestern Russia made the announcement on social media site VK on Tuesday.
The post read: “For boys in difficult combat situations, the beauty of birds will be an inspiration and bring a dash of joy. This is not an advertisement for the zoo, but a gift from the heart. We hope that the beauty of these birds will brighten the daily lives of the soldiers who are fighting,” reported The Daily Beast quoted by Business Insider.
The post was also accompanied by a video in which a masked soldier appeared in front of the cage where the two birds were. The soldier said that anyone looking at the two peacocks felt a “spiritual peace”. It is not clear if the video was filmed in Ukraine. It is also not clear where the birds were sent.
The zoo later deleted the post on the grounds that comments insulting Putin had been written.
The zoo blamed Ukrainian bots for the comments, a common excuse Russia has consistently found for online comments insulting the Russian president or criticizing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“Insults to the president are unacceptable,” the zoo said, according to The Daily Beast.
Publisher: GM
Tags: zoo peacocks Russian military Ukraine turned wave insults Putin
