– People who are from Ukraine have said that it is my fault, and it actually is. I feel that the war is my fault too, says Russian Victor to TV 2.
Victor is not his real name. Due to the current security situation in Russia, TV 2 chooses to anonymize him.
– SYMBOL: A woman walks past a poster with the letter “Z” on it, which says “we are not ashamed!”. The letter has become a symbol of support for the Russian invasion. Photo: AFP
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The 29-year-old does not notice much about the sanctions, which the West has introduced. When asked by TV 2 about how he is doing, he quickly answers:
– I am doing fine. Compared to those in Ukraine, my problems are small.
He feels a strong sense of guilt for the ongoing war in Ukraine.
– I understand the Ukrainian people and why they are angry at Russians. But one must not forget that there is one person who decided on the war, and that is Putin.
Hamsters from the shops
To talk to TV 2, Victor uses VPN – he has to trick the computer systems into believing that he is in another country to log in to social media. Russian authorities have blocked a number of independent newspapers and social media in the country.
– The biggest problem we have is what the authorities do, it is worse than the sanctions. It is completely idiotic that Facebook and Instagram are closed, I get logged in via VPN. It’s just stupid to have to log on to it all the time, says Victor.
He thinks it will take longer before the Russians really want to feel the sanctions from the West.
– RUBLE: The exchange rate of Russian rubles has fallen since Russia invaded Ukraine. Photo: AP
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– I think we will notice it more in the summer. The biggest problem will probably be getting electronics, such as mobile phones and microwave ovens, which are manufactured in other countries, Victor believes.
He emphasizes that many have nevertheless stockpiled food from store shelves, and believes that there is a big difference between the younger and the older generation in the country.
– There is a panic, especially among the elderly. They remember when the Soviet Union fell and the great crisis that followed. Many old people have bought sugar, says Victor and continues:
– Some store shelves are empty because people are afraid that things will run out, he says.
– “Z”: The letter “Z” has become a symbol of Russian support for the war. Here, a bicycle courier rides past a building, which is adorned with the symbol in Moscow. Photo: AP / NTB
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Although Victor experiences that the sanctions do not currently hit him so hard, he tells of acquaintances, who have faced greater challenges.
– I have friends who work freelance with computer programming and they usually take assignments from several places in the world. Now they are struggling to get new projects.
– There will be no revolution
When the war broke out, thousands of Russians took over the streets to demonstrate against the war – Victor did the same, but he has stopped now.
– At that time, it was actually legal to demonstrate. Now the authorities have introduced a new law just to scare us, says Victor.
– ARRESTED: A woman is arrested by police after demonstrating against the war in Ukraine. The photo was taken in St. Petersburg on March 13. Photo: AFP
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Russians can risk up to 15 years in prison for criticizing or saying something against the war. They are also forbidden to call the invasion what it is, namely a war.
– There are many who are against the war, but we can not do anything about it, Victor says downcast.
At the same time, he explains that there are also many who support Putin.
– About half of the Russian people are against the war, but the remaining half are for, so Putin has his power here. It will not be a revolution, at least not right away, Victor believes.
About one million Russians have left the country since the war broke out. Victor knows no one who has traveled from the area he comes from, but he knows several who have traveled from the capital.
– They have traveled from Moscow to Armenia, where it is easy to travel with a Russian passport, he says.
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