Thread by @TomilaLankina

I have eschewed contacting #Russia friends from high school times recently as talking politics has been pointless and unpleasant since 2014. Last night I reached out to dear friend as I know they have relations in Mariupol :short 🧵

2/The connection wasn’t very good but I kept hearing the word solidarity. I assumed it was about being w #Ukraine people but no it was about how the Russian circle of friends united in solidarity so even those hitherto living in Europe with kids at schools there came back /3

3/Due to solidarity. There is a sense also of psychological compensation mechanism triggered by sanctions, a desire to portray all as normal and as though life goes on as before. Groceries in shops aplenty and even western shops like M&S still operating. /4

4/Families travel to famous Russian tourist spots around the Golden Ring due to solidarity When I asked about 🇺🇦 the reply was they know the truth about what is happening but it seems not the kind of stuff I know. So they are more in the know than we are here. It was vague /5

5/But I guessed what she was getting at. Disturbingly there is a sense of victimisation via sanctions. I felt despair after this conversation as I feel I am in a bubble of like minded Russians in the west protesting and ashamed about the war but we are in a minority/6

6/ the friend is from highly educated family so no it isn’t about ignorance. Academic colleagues doing great survey work @brynrosenfeld @oonuch : there are consequences we will be studying for a long time after the war which leave me far less hopeful about Russia than I hadbeen7/

7/Just a few weeks back. Rich or poor many Russians have also benefited from state jobs and even those in the private sector from state contracts. Not sure if the word fear is right here as they are silent more because they have convinced themselves of righteousness of 🇷🇺 war /8

/8 but most disturbingly they say they have no responsibility for the bygones and don’t understand why they are being victimised by the west. No personal responsibility. None whatsoever. Only “solidarity “.