Why Russians still support the war

Reasons for Russian support for the war in Ukraine

Despite the war's impact on Russia, including drone strikes in Moscow and a near coup by Yevgeny Pragosian, there has been no uprising against the war from ordinary Russians. Masha Gessen suggests that Russians' support for the war is rooted in various circumstances. Some Ukrainians have been forcibly evacuated from occupied territories, some faced a choice between staying and facing dire consequences or leaving for Russia, and others had family or medical needs that could only be met in Russia. Russia's goal is to colonize Ukraine and suppress its national identity, making it advantageous for them to move Ukrainians to Russia. However, this also puts them in difficult conditions and remote areas. Despite these challenges, a network of Russian volunteers risks everything to help Ukrainians in Russia, driven by opposition to the war or a sense of responsibility. This volunteer effort brings together people who vehemently oppose the war and those who support it.