Russia’s tightly controlled state media reacted angrily to shipments of Western tanks committed to Ukraine this week – and that anger is shared by some residents. Moscow.
Sergei told CNN in the Russian capital that Ukrainian tanks “will hinder our troops”. “But we will win regardless. It only increases conflict,” he said, echoing the Kremlin’s narrative that Ukraine is a puppet government of the West.
“It will cause another world war,” added an elderly woman. “We remember the Second World War very well, when I was a child. No one will win another world war.”
But that’s not the only sight to be found on the streets of Moscow. Some Russians expressed exasperation with the conflict, and some directly criticized President Vladimir Putin.
“It’s disgusting… they should never have started a war,” said one woman, calling Putin “guilty” of the invasion.
“Lack of public information,” said another, expressing their frustration with the pro-war propaganda that pervades the Russian airwaves. “Everybody should be explained…it would be better if experts started expressing their real views instead of following orders, from the government and Putin.”
Others felt it was time to withdraw from Russia. “I think this is a political war, not a people’s war. Let them handle this,” another woman said.
“What are we supposed to do? Our opinion is meant to be stupidly squatting.”
One film student, whose friends fought during the conflict, said: “I’m about to cry. I just wish that this particular military operation had never started in the first place, this war and human life were really taken seriously.”
