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Watch A Russian News Anchor's Reaction When He Hears A Surprising Opinion


RBK anchor Yury Tamantsev gets an answer he doesn't expect on Russian TV.
RBK anchor Yury Tamantsev gets an answer he doesn't expect on Russian TV.
RBK is a Russian business news agency not known for the sort of over-the-top, pro-Kremlin coverage of state television channels. It is owned by a group led by Russian billionaire and Brooklyn Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov.

Still, over the course of a five-minute interview with the chairman of the Independent Association of Ukrainian Miners, the host of an RBK television program seemed to morph from reserved to agitated to angry.

The video below is in Russian, but even if you don't speak the language, the change of tone is obvious.

WATCH: Mykhaylo Volinets interviewed by RBK TV

The guest, Mykhaylo Volinets, begins by claiming that, over the weekend, "men in masks with automatic weapons" had occupied a Donetsk mine and taken its general director prisoner.

"The majority of the Donetsk miners don't support the actions of [pro-Russian] separatists," he continues. "But many -- especially Russia -- are trying to destabilize the country's east. If it weren't for the actions of Russia to destabilize the situation we could peacefully resolve it. "

The anchor, Yury Tamantsev, now with his arms crossed, takes a long breath. He claims that a week ago he had seen images of miners protesting against the Ukrainian military operation in the region. It's hard to believe, he says, that they had changed their mind.

"There are different opinions," says Volinets, who goes on to argue that a range of complex measures should be taken to staunch the unrest, including negotiations and an end to violence. Nonetheless, he concludes, it's impossible as long as Russian arms are illegally crossing into Ukraine.

Now Tamantsev is agitated. He answers with a sentence that is marvelous for its unintentional irony.

"Did you see [the arms] yourself?" he asks. "You are just broadcasting the opinion of Ukrainian television now. For what?"

Volinets begins to speak and the host cuts him off.

"You said there are different opinions, but your opinion is also just one out of many, do you agree?"

Volinets again brings up weapons, as the host's rage builds.

"Where did you see them, on Ukrainian TV? Come on, let's talk about what we know is fact," he says, adding that there was no way that the miners have suddenly all turned against the separatists.

"I don't want to fault you, I'm just going over the facts on the ground," Volinets answers.

"You're not incriminating me in particular, but an entire country in something you can't concretely prove."

Volinets tries to speak again, but by now the exasperated host has had enough. He ends the discussion.

-- Glenn Kates
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