Russians in Ukrainian invasion, three years

Driving to Tver, the first thing I notice are soldiers.

Are everywhere. Billboard, buildings of buildings, bus stations. Portraits with words “Russian hero”. Citizens of Kalashnikov troops encourage citizens “love, proud and defend”.

In other words, to register and go and fight in Ukraine. After three years after the invasion of his neighbor’s scale, Russia seeks new hiring.

Despite all the military images about the town, if you live in Tver, it can be convinced that life is normal. The first line is hundreds of miles away.

“Look around,” said Mikhail, a local teacher, tells me. “The cars are passing and all stores are open. No one falls anywhere. We are not panicing. We can’t hear the mermaids. We don’t have evacuation.”

For many Russian invasion of Ukraine – Kremlin is still called “a special military operating” – it’s something that only meet on television screens.

But for people like Anna, it is much real.

“I know a lot of people who went to fight,” says Anna street when we are chatting.

“Some of them never came home. I hope (war) end up as soon as possible.”

Donald Trump claims what he also wants. Without invited Ukraine to the bargaining table, the Trump Administration has already entered live lectures with Russian leadership.

What do the US president of the US and its revolutions do to Moscow?

“Trump is a dark horse,” Anna thinks. “I’m not sure what he hoped for him.”

Some people I talk to Tver repeat the official narrative of the state television: their people are not attacking, Russian Russian and Russian speakers do not release the territory.

It does not mean this alternative reality that Russia society buys as a whole.

“In a society people always prefer to be in the mainstream,” believes Andrei Kolesnikov, a columnist for Newtimes.ru and Novaya Gaza. “If it’s west and Television is at war with West, the average citizen will think like that. It’s easier to think of the details. So you don’t want to enter it mostly.??

“Some researchers call the fetal position. When you show yourself the appearance of the child you defend yourself. You say:” I can’t explain to myself what is going on. Feed me with words. I will be accepted. ‘This is typical for all societies of this type: a little authoritarian, a bit of totalitarian. “

Larissa and her husband Valery will voluntarily support the official line.

“We’re all for the special military operation,” Larissa said. “We are ready to volunteer and go there!”

They still have no clear.

“We hope that (Russia) will be victorious. We want to capitulate Ukraine for the rest.”

The police rose up. They have received the call to inform the “suspicious person with the camera” Tver. Our meaning.

They are polite, but we want to know why we are here. They take a driver’s statement. They check our vehicle. They ask me an official explanation for our visit. I tell them that we are moving away from the Moscow. We show our documents, which are in order.

While we talked to the officers, the Russian State TV camera came out and started shooting.

“We were passing,” says journalist, “and we’ve seen and recognized the police. Can you tell me what’s going on?”

“I don’t know,” I replied. “Maybe tell us?”

“What did you do to shoot?”

“We talked to people on the street,” I say. “I think we have permission to do that.”

“Yes, we have freedom of expression in our town,” replied the journalist. “Maybe the police want to help you

“Apart from you,” I point out. “And the police stand by our car.”

The incident that lasted about an hour is not a real surprise. They suspected the west of the three-year West within Russia. Early signs of a dismissal of US-Russian relations should still change.

When talking to people in Tver, it is clear that the Russians hope that they will be relieved to end the fight.

“Prices are so big now for things I need the most,” says Yulia while the baby shits. “Like the price of potatoes and onions. I’m really sorry.”

But the Mikhail teacher does not feel that Donald Trump has a strategy for securing peace.

“Unfortunately, Trump has not got any plans,” Mikhail thinks. “It’s a attendor. My sympathy is going to. My sympathy is with him. I’m happy to win. But we’re all in the dark. He is in the dark. He.”