The War In Ukraine Is Finally Real For Russians Says The Student

Russia invaded Ukraine in February and has been waging war in the country ever since. But the Russian government calls this war a “special military operation” and has played down its seriousness at home. A Moscow sociologist, who spoke to me As it happens earlier this week, says the majority of Russians were largely ambivalent about the war. But that all changed on Wednesday when Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a mass mobilization of Russians on the battlefieldpromising to recruit 300,000 young men to fight in Ukraine. More than 1,300 Russians were arrested in anti-war demonstrations across the country on Wednesday. Air tickets from Russia sell out fastand borders are supported as people try to leave the country. As It Happens host Nil Köksal spoke to a young Russian woman in St. Petersburg on Thursday who opposes the war. The CBC is withholding her name because it fears she could be arrested for speaking out. Here is part of that conversation. How did you feel when you heard what Vladimir Putin said yesterday, that he is announcing this mobilization? I felt fear and anxiety. It was close to what I felt on February 21, right when it all started. And it was exactly the same feeling. [For] seven months, this war was only on our television, and that [didn’t feel] as if it were really a war. But yesterday, I felt that it’s really about my family, it’s really about my country, my friends and that everyone can suffer from it. I still live in that feeling. A Russian citizen who gave his name only as Vasiliy arrived in Istanbul on Thursday with his wife and teenage daughter and six suitcases. Russians have been leaving the country in droves since the government announced a massive military mobilization in Ukraine. (Reuters) What are they saying from people you talk to or people you know who may be called to fight in this war? What are they most afraid of? We don’t even know who can be drafted because in the documents published by the officials there are no restrictions and everyone can be mobilized. So everyone now [is] they live in fear because they don’t know what will happen to them. The boys who study with me are also afraid because they used to say that they will not mobilize students, but in fact they can. For a long time, since the war started, we heard that many Russians believed what the Kremlin said and, you know, didn’t call it a war. What are people saying now about this war that they weren’t saying before? In the first place, many people started using the word “war” because, as you rightly said, before it was called a special military operation. But now, for people, it is a real war because they have to send their family members to die there. And I can see a lot of people changing their minds about this. And now, of course, it’s against [it]. But as you know, Vladimir Putin is not backing down. Yesterday we heard threats about the possible use of nuclear weapons. Do you feel you can do something now to oppose what your government is doing? I don’t know what to do because [for] every action, there are high risks. And I’m in a situation where any action can ruin my life and I don’t have many opportunities to move somewhere. But there are still some actions we can take inside Russia. First of all, yesterday there were demonstrations in the streets and about 1,400 people were detained there — as usual in Russia. WATCHES | Hundreds of arrests in anti-war protests:

Hundreds arrested in Russia for protesting military mobilization

President Vladimir Putin’s announcement of Russia’s first military plan since World War II sparked waves of protests across the country, resulting in more than 700 arrests. Despite the risks and dangers, you agreed to talk with us and we are grateful for that. Why did you want to do that? Because I believe that now it is very important to share the voice of Russians. Because everyone around [is] listening to Ukrainians, and that is very good. I support it. But I feel to myself that the Russians are still not being heard, and it’s not okay because we’re suffering from it too. You are new. You have your whole life ahead of you. But I wonder what it’s like to be a young person in Russia right now. It’s very difficult for me now because I feel like I can’t dream anymore, because all my plans and all my dreams can be destroyed in just one day. And now I decided to stay in Russia for a few years to finish my university education. And then I’ll try to move somewhere abroad, maybe to Europe or the US or Canada or somewhere else, just to continue my graduate studies. Do you see no future in Russia for you even after the war? Unfortunately, because even after the war our country will be poor. And I’m not sure anything will change differently there. We don’t often get to talk to people in Russia. Is there anything you want Canadians to know? I just want to remind Canadians that democracy is … yours to keep and you must protect it [it]or you might see some awful things in your country, like in Russia. So keep fighting for a better future, protect your democracy and just spread peace around the world. Do what you can to help Ukraine. Help Russia. [Help the] Russian opposition, if you can somehow do it. This is more than enough. And I believe that kindness will prevail.

title: “The War In Ukraine Is Finally Real For Russians Says The Student " ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-19” author: “Carol Ames”

Russia invaded Ukraine in February and has been waging war in the country ever since. But the Russian government calls this war a “special military operation” and has played down its seriousness at home. A Moscow sociologist, who spoke to me As it happens earlier this week, says the majority of Russians were largely ambivalent about the war. But that all changed on Wednesday when Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a mass mobilization of Russians on the battlefieldpromising to recruit 300,000 young men to fight in Ukraine. More than 1,300 Russians were arrested in anti-war demonstrations across the country on Wednesday. Air tickets from Russia sell out fastand borders are supported as people try to leave the country. As It Happens host Nil Köksal spoke to a young Russian woman in St. Petersburg on Thursday who opposes the war. The CBC is withholding her name because it fears she could be arrested for speaking out. Here is part of that conversation. How did you feel when you heard what Vladimir Putin said yesterday, that he is announcing this mobilization? I felt fear and anxiety. It was close to what I felt on February 21, right when it all started. And it was exactly the same feeling. [For] seven months, this war was only on our television, and that [didn’t feel] as if it were really a war. But yesterday, I felt that it’s really about my family, it’s really about my country, my friends and that everyone can suffer from it. I still live in that feeling. A Russian citizen who gave his name only as Vasiliy arrived in Istanbul on Thursday with his wife and teenage daughter and six suitcases. Russians have been leaving the country in droves since the government announced a massive military mobilization in Ukraine. (Reuters) What are they saying from people you talk to or people you know who may be called to fight in this war? What are they most afraid of? We don’t even know who can be drafted because in the documents published by the officials there are no restrictions and everyone can be mobilized. So everyone now [is] they live in fear because they don’t know what will happen to them. The boys who study with me are also afraid because they used to say that they will not mobilize students, but in fact they can. For a long time, since the war started, we heard that many Russians believed what the Kremlin said and, you know, didn’t call it a war. What are people saying now about this war that they weren’t saying before? In the first place, many people started using the word “war” because, as you rightly said, before it was called a special military operation. But now, for people, it is a real war because they have to send their family members to die there. And I can see a lot of people changing their minds about this. And now, of course, it’s against [it]. But as you know, Vladimir Putin is not backing down. Yesterday we heard threats about the possible use of nuclear weapons. Do you feel you can do something now to oppose what your government is doing? I don’t know what to do because [for] every action, there are high risks. And I’m in a situation where any action can ruin my life and I don’t have many opportunities to move somewhere. But there are still some actions we can take inside Russia. First of all, yesterday there were demonstrations in the streets and about 1,400 people were detained there — as usual in Russia. WATCHES | Hundreds of arrests in anti-war protests:

Hundreds arrested in Russia for protesting military mobilization

President Vladimir Putin’s announcement of Russia’s first military plan since World War II sparked waves of protests across the country, resulting in more than 700 arrests. Despite the risks and dangers, you agreed to talk with us and we are grateful for that. Why did you want to do that? Because I believe that now it is very important to share the voice of Russians. Because everyone around [is] listening to Ukrainians, and that is very good. I support it. But I feel to myself that the Russians are still not being heard, and it’s not okay because we’re suffering from it too. You are new. You have your whole life ahead of you. But I wonder what it’s like to be a young person in Russia right now. It’s very difficult for me now because I feel like I can’t dream anymore, because all my plans and all my dreams can be destroyed in just one day. And now I decided to stay in Russia for a few years to finish my university education. And then I’ll try to move somewhere abroad, maybe to Europe or the US or Canada or somewhere else, just to continue my graduate studies. Do you see no future in Russia for you even after the war? Unfortunately, because even after the war our country will be poor. And I’m not sure anything will change differently there. We don’t often get to talk to people in Russia. Is there anything you want Canadians to know? I just want to remind Canadians that democracy is … yours to keep and you must protect it [it]or you might see some awful things in your country, like in Russia. So keep fighting for a better future, protect your democracy and just spread peace around the world. Do what you can to help Ukraine. Help Russia. [Help the] Russian opposition, if you can somehow do it. This is more than enough. And I believe that kindness will prevail.