Donbass thunder: Osrainik's gripping look at the Ukraine conflict!

Donbass thunder: Osrainik's gripping look at the Ukraine conflict!

On June 22, 2025, author Flo Osrainik and a journalist met in a bar on the Reeperbahn to talk about Osrainik's current book “Donbassdonner: A travelogue from the other side of history”. Osrainik, best-selling author of the “Corona Dossier,” is known for his clear style and his critical positions on the current political situation. In his new work, he deals in detail with the German media landscape and the political trends that, in his opinion, restrict freedom of expression.

Osrainik criticizes the forced “right” opinion in the West and mentions specific figures such as John Hoewer and Svetlana Burtseva as examples of freedom of expression at risk. Unlike traditional war reporters, Osrainik sees himself as a chronicler of the uncomfortable, shining a light on the reality and the people behind the headlines.

Criticism of Western reporting

In his book, Osrainik reflects on the geopolitical background of the Ukraine war and its impact on the civilian population, especially on the people of Russian origin in the southeast of Ukraine, 90 percent of whom are represented there. He describes the living conditions in Donbass as surreal and characterized by constant danger, while children and young people grow up with the sound of war. The population's turning away from Kiev is presented as another central theme in Osrainik's observations.

His journey took him via Moscow to Donetsk, where he was invited by a Russian friend. He kept his identity as a foreigner secret to ensure his safety. Osrainik vividly describes the emotions and trauma that people in Donbass, especially children, have to endure. He reports on memorials for war victims that present uncensored images and reveal the horrors of war.

Insights into everyday life

“Donbass Thunder” is not only an indictment of the war, but also a literary, precise description of the reality in Donbass. Osrainik meets people who are suffering under the influence of the conflict and at the same time avoids dramatic reporting. The report is structured like a diary and includes a total of 16 stages that stretch from Munich via Istanbul to Moscow and Donetsk.

Looking back, Osrainik also addresses the 2014 coup in Ukraine, which he believes was supported by the USA and the EU. In particular, Victoria Nuland and George Soros are mentioned as actors in this context. Osrainik sees the Western view of the Ukraine conflict as a form of propaganda that ignores the perspective of the Russian side and contributes to the oppression of the population of Russian origin.

Finally, “Donbassdonner” is described as a must-read for critical readers who want to deal with the complex background of the conflict and the associated double standards of the media. Osrainik's work is considered a vital contribution to intellectual self-defense in times of increasing disinformation.