Russia’s War on Ukraine: A Constant Battle Between Appearance and Reality
In Moscow, life can seem normal despite the country being at war with Ukraine for nearly three years. Commuters pack the Metro, and bars and clubs are filled with young people. But then something happens to remind you that Russia is not as calm as it seems.
Recently, a Ukrainian drone penetrated Moscow’s air defenses, and just this week, a senior Russian general was targeted and killed by a bomb in an apartment block. The assassination of Lt Gen Igor Kirillov and his assistant Ilya Polikarpov sent shockwaves through the city.
For people living close to the blast site, the reality of Russia’s war on Ukraine hit home. “It’s one thing reading about it in the news, but when it happens next door to you, that’s completely different and frightening,” said Liza, who lives just a building away from where Kirillov was killed.
Many Russians feel that the war is happening far away, a virtual war they experience only on TV or their phones. But the killing of a Russian general in Moscow has made it clear that this is a very real and close-to-home conflict. Despite the large number of dead and wounded, many people here still see it as something distant.
However, this event might not change the Kremlin’s stance on Ukraine. There are no signs of a U-turn from the Russian authorities, and it’s likely that Moscow will intensify the war. Former President Dmitry Medvedev even called for retaliation against Ukraine, while President Vladimir Putin has remained silent on the issue.
The tension is expected to rise further with the upcoming press conference by Putin, where he might comment on the assassination of Kirillov or other sensitive topics like Syria. The world will be watching to see how Russia reacts next.