The Importance of Memory in Russia

World War II is seen as something central to Russian identity that is under attack. I think that's been really greatly underestimated in terms of Western policy on Russia, perhaps because everybody feels like the idea of times of values and ideas has passed. But this war is showing us that that's not the case. And so people often feel that these are completely bottom up citizens and led movements. They don't see them as political or in any way connected to the government.