this report takes a look at what ordinary russians actually think close up next on dw. ah, what secrets lie behind these walls? discover new adventures in 360 degrees. and explore fascinating world heritage sites. d w world heritage 360. yet he at now i've been reporting for a r d as a moscow correspondent for 5 years. everything changed on february 24th 2022. the de russia invaded ukraine. the country i live in is waging war.

a war that must not be mentioned as such. and yet has consequences for every one. over a period of several months, i interviewed for people on how their lives changed in this historic year. and how this war is changing. russia for look at a country that is increasingly shutting itself off. ah st. petersburg in february 2022 thousands take to the streets to protest against the war. ah, yeah, blood that isn't all of him with him. i was almost arrested 3 times to think it was confusing tanny solution already. many people were angry about what was happening in there, but it's a lot of police were there. even though i knew there was a big police conway at this spot here. what's the big him just themes the alcohol. now, how long gotten doria hickin is

a successful tick. tock her at just 18 years old. she's one of the few who are still protesting against putin's regime. she tells me that the police put pressure on her after the demos, what we're going to see them way was they came to my building with a search warrant and searched my apartment for 2 hours. it was full and then they took me to the police station and put me in custody for 2 days it by 12 away of the week for that it would be easier if we and russia could say, take to the streets to day every one of those years the movie, what didn't didn't process that, but today has intimidated us for 20 years and he removed any possibility for us to influence policy, which was widely as if it all left. so it's very difficult, davis thought, but the more oh boy than what the wood floors like. while we report from russia new laws are being passed almost every day. the word war has become taboo. independent media has closed down. thousands have been arrested at demonstrations throughout

the country. and the strategy has clearly been successful. protests have stopped mike here in saint petersburg. nothing suggest to war here. almost nothing. dorian, i find these words in the city center, no to war. in putin's russia writing, this could land you in prison. people outside russia need to understand that, says daria, give me a, was this because it's thought it's important for me to say that we exist, that we are many, whether enough, despite everything and for the hearing of death for one wrong word or wrong. the word at sentence on social media, you can get 10 years in prison floor. it's difficult to say anything now you have enough, but i am certain civil society will still find ways to make its opinions known. will she turn out to be right? with swag elton's bettina in foster presidency left his fault phone keeps up with a good shift. i was on this plum author's de la in mother you thought linda 1000 is

and thought fun lately. have has wall gone application, lies from them in who from, from the moon has on the car the, i knew the sheets and the eula makes moving. i can and copa food included. hi louis . by mid march, hundreds of thousands of russians had fled abroad. not just from moscow. constantino's nose is also thinking about leaving the country the last movie until recently, i lived in a relatively open country where a travel was possible. now i'm suddenly living in an isolated country in that's traumatized as a little in history. it looked at him at the me now, which in revenue ah, you see company?

well, the fun of constantine is in his mid fifties and works in the i t industry. his wife ah sia on his throttle call is a translator. yes, and they now want to leave their country due to russia's war by. it is near change, but it's a big decision not listed as casual. we feel something like this for if we stayed here, we would be silently supporting what the state is doing. i think now for example, by paying taxes that finance the war and the army. and we don't want to be complicit and what's happening in russia right now. we so jessica makes you more space, which just gracie, he which so the couple have 2 children and 2 cats, their son philip and their daughter, who prefers not to be on camera. they haven't yet decided where they will emigrate to germany. israel constantine is putting together all their documents in the hope that everything will work out

ah, the statement to understand what's really happening in russia. you have to get out of moscow, for example, here in the south, in the stab report region. many of the soldiers fighting in ukraine come from this region. we visit a farm with an amusement park. it's popular with families. and rahman pon marie off is the boss. he's in his late thirties, a pollutant supporter. just like the majority of russians from the to dallas stood us to play. when a country gets into a difficult situation, people eat more and stockpile more gucia bushes, episodes of bullshit. but rahman hopes for a good harvest this year. his cucumbers, tomatoes, and strawberries are vaccinated. against bugs not sprayed,

he says his farm is organic. he hasn't noticed the western sanctions. he says he doesn't have any western machinery. the tractors are from belarus 2 of his employees are fighting as soldiers against ukraine. roman tells us he's erected a large ze made of straw, a symbol of support for the special operation . but just a rose, physical upset. o climb in favor of the special operation that our government is conducting. a beast new, rusty musical boost. yes, my neighbor installed a cannon on his property way, was cecilia, and pointed it at my house. stay at my family in a problem. well, we don't. well, even if all the neighbors said he wouldn't shoot the cannon would, i wouldn't like that situation. me out of his thoughts. venues. raymond believes

the russian propaganda that ukraine is an imminent threat to russia. ah. in june i visit constantino's nurse known as costa and his family and moscow. again. they decided in 10 days they will emigrate to israel. they've never been there before. that's likely to change. i feel fear. yep. adventure, panic, uncertainty, joy, a combination of all the emotions. our kids are much more nervous than we are, especially our older daughter. got on the bush. yeah. jim, are you nervous? yes. thank you for your quaint. no, i'm excited. well, 20 little boy. the 2 cats are also coming along. i wonder if it's really sunk in what this family is up against.

so in need of coca cola, which if it's not at all how i wanted it to be fair enough, aesrael is a very difficult country. now it looks like it's inevitable or with a choice when you don't really have a choice. this is a little bit to be a feel of a flood of civil flanagan. they've gathered all the documents to prove that konstantin has jewish roots there. they will be able to get his really passports via chance lego watch. honestly, i would love to work and live in russia if russia were an open, friendly country that was evolving a calm and humane country. if we had an influence on life in russia, and we could have some kind of voice liber, but that's not possible at all. did i to reason if it's danny? no. each of 3rd shannon you more? hm lou, what i notice again and again is resignation and it's increasing even among those

who protest against the war. at 1st in st. petersburg, darya, hakan and her boyfriend on yale were suddenly threatened by strangers campbell, i'm the 1st we were off work and woke up at 12 o'clock to knock on the door. so i went to the people at 1st we thought it was the police. then i saw that the people was painted over with red paint. i opened the door at a huge pile of down on the next day, daniel was going to work. he was swearing loudly and said come here quick. the door was doused with a green chemical and there were fliers addressed to me personally saying i was a finish nazi because i have a finish. last name. there were threats were close by just wait and another pile of dung at the door. this says traitor, and there was a black strip next to it. we think it's a morning ribbon people stick on portraits of the deceased. so it was also a threat rosa. they filed a complaint, but the police didn't solve the case. daria won't let herself be so easily

intimidated. she's planning the 1st anniversary event of a local opposition movement. she found it called my arc. it criticizes those in power and aims to unite opposition forces. can the event take place without problems? ah, i don't. what a contrast there is fighting in ukraine and here there's a party quick like when we're back with raymond, the farmer from stop repub there throwing a foam party at his small amusement park. with the straw figures, it's one of russia's most important, national holidays jailer. see another pub in russia day. let me know

it, but i think i would say it's all about patriotism. yeah. i see. yeah. for me this holiday means that all russians united to support each other. i'd give, i'm including, when it comes to the special operation in those of us bits of one, not a thought on the blind, which my friends from germany sometimes asked me if you can still live normally in russia and come up here. you see that you can see, in fact, the special operation ukraine seems quite far away, even in people's minds often, even though many soldiers and volunteers went there from this region. but here there's great support. don't just assemble what not support our boys participating in the special operation. i found out every one ah

staff repose cemetery is just 40 minutes away. russian soldiers who died in ukraine are buried here. we're not welcome with our camera. because talking to foreign media can cause problems for relatives who is a tin wood. i know that this here is just one small city of very many in this region

of russia. so there are $40.00 to $50.00, grabs here, fish to level. most of them were paratroopers who died in ukraine doing this even comes and and more are added every week. it is a game, the kents, m. oscar that will cut you know from in that vita it, clinicians type cuffed as and soon in math when some site formed as i'm gonna sign this medicine. tullison seed bin this from indian avoid of guy be of adding delicate in is a few movie harrison events. hopefully she'll be the good was amount of a phone, phone of, i'm kind of source of reserves, jeff's fun shots, conselium hope, misty zealand, osland. i noticed while yet again, didn't cecile isn't it? we have another meeting with daria, today's the one year anniversary of her political organization in difficult times

in feeling side, when daria and her team plan to talk about police violence. among other things, she warns us that the police themselves could disrupt the event. i wish to speak to you please. no political events are happening in st. petersburg or if they are then only behind closed doors for them. because there's always a risk of going to jail study. we've been waiting for an occasion to meet like today. because it's meetings like this that are really lacking right now. and the activism of the opposition, of sure peak from fusion. even if we help the police don't show up. no it. is that a real risk? oh versus that as it happened the last 2 times with us. yes. once i was detained before the meetings, i couldn't get there. with the 2nd time they waited at the exit for ages sunny, but then they didn't detain anyone or enter the building yog street and this time.

so, yeah, the fact that i'm here is probably a good sign. it's pretty slow. daria's goal is to draw attention to local political grievances, but hardly any one turns up. one visit for me, some for me, this somehow represents the opposition in russia. it's supposed to be starting now, but nobody's here. half of the people here are journalists, despite the fact that daria has more than 150000 followers on tick tock. people are probably just too afraid, understandably so, since under putin, the russians have learned that it's better not to interfere in politics. daria is one of the few who takes risks and does it anyway. it's the day of departure for constantine's family. it's very hectic. but the main

thing is that the documents are packed finally, gosh, oak. i'm panicking in shock. there's a complete lack of emotion that was said was i'm in the zone quick, quick, quick cover. it's a pity, we've lost some treasured possession, but it's too late for that now. we've actually been in our lives are changing in and you shouldn't dwell even on the past about some of them yelling in israel, they plan to stay with friends at 1st. other than that, they have no further plans yet. a son, a daughter, a father and mother, and the 2 cats. off to start a new life. in moscow, the warren ukraine remains invisible in europe's largest city. you can choose to

completely ignore europe's most serious war in decades. as a moscow himself, moscow in summer is lively, is always find well kind of it. and i don't notice any changes at all guns and even chains like this. starbucks have been long replaced by a russian owner hovel. even the logos, the same starbucks has just been changed to stars. coffee. russia imitates western brands. by summer, the economic consequences are hardly noticeable. although over a 1000 western companies have left the country and russia is threatened with a severe recession. it's becoming increasingly difficult for us foreign journalists to do our jobs in fall. there's some news that changes things a lot in that will cut enough has worked to us on to fuck since we're shopping in burnett's comes mccoy 15 bought one of the host. i have to get in there. awesome

cut. you need to also some stocks today to the camera to will to cut this glucose with an unbelievable tuple show for pick up soon. gleiss came crazy. didn't put in at any time. we'll be in the home and garden it. it's thought i 100000. as of his design against i had sold. i've spoken to fuzzy of my medicine. i left a slice of philosophy languish, london, not mine to convince you back on nike on you hundreds of thousands fled russia before the mobilization. and the october must come into my here in moscow at the end of october. and the city has changed a completely spoiled discount. you don't see it at 1st glance in, but you feel it very strongly stunned. people are in a state of stress lesson many left the country after the announcement of the mobilization here in russia. yes. oh, yeah. and you can feel it in the building. i live in as well as a people have been leaving hostile. lots of apartments are empty,

pita won't stay and in stop ripple, ramen is out planting lavender. this is much of her missed. this is going to be a cultural area with flowers, with food this with the with so when a couple of her bids were, the whole area will be sort of a photo zone for a selfie zone. mr. submits that on like we're building our own pulse here. so you don't have to go to friends when he is is vocal answer, but most known as this was blurred. sort of put alliance on ramen's farm preparations for the next season or underway. the pumpkin has to go. the land is being cleared and the plants for next year are growing in the greenhouse i ask rahman what has changed for him this year? nicky, going to skip his new genuine interest. i don't see any big changes. i don't really

mean we're working in the same rhythm as last year. and the year before last was over from the madness though. let sure that i don't see any changes in the moral sphere either. you can get a motor, but it's quite possible that patriotism is increasing susie's search. additionally, we've been is that c because of the partial mobilization, which called up more people from bowman. my bit is us relatives are starting to support their boys more, which would just shoot lucel's to think of them moment in romance case, the conviction that his russia is doing the right thing has continued to grow. he expresses no criticism of putin. on the contrary, ramon is convinced that everything is going right. i will scan little. oh yes ma'am, but just the russian, people obviously support the leaders of this country. storm liberty. but she will

because they are the professional. so aneice, beside least they know better than the common people huddled up and they're doing it right and do it private evenly. if we see that it's being done right. when 90 percent of the time everything is done right. what i've sent the do, it's of surprising will russia, when and of course finished it in the beginning, it seemed like it was going to happen fast as i washed it up with them. that's no longer the case because it's a battle. but i still think it's unlikely to take 10 years. i say, could buy ramana and i have talked a lot. it seems to me that his view has become more entrenched. even by september, russian authorities were already estimating that 6000 soldiers had been killed. observers believe the number is significantly higher

found them elson was one of our 1st visit here to the cemetery and stockbroker. there was only this row of soldiers graves my head of now we returned and a new row has been added. and the war is causing more and more problems for russia to fill us, lanced i t gosh, wish to good book. and so a kim store. yeah, next was yo and we have a shade is broadens was osha of ocean front. on his own, on total cindy wasn't the, i'm go for what sugar treatment comes corner, filthy step. if i'm lucky, think of this else must have been at the s and takes time, but sees golden calf back. what went on respond back out here that i said, don't feel tripled sent. it will cut ignition in ag, informational to what they're still told him was going to be at school. i was cast sun in desert or cut in and i look at oh button start has long hub. i'm going id and calling from clayton there shes adopting a fight. we're in jerusalem.

ah, we've come to visit constantine at his new home. elemental. he's hardly changed. and the buildings in jerusalem don't seem very different from those in russia. was emigration. the right decision is decent. i don't feel lonely here. it's like a piece of russia moved here with me. people i was in contact with in russia. have also moved here. got to me a dom up. chelsea ah sia continues to work from home as a translator for her old company. konstantin doesn't have a job yet and he hasn't really started looking for one. the i t industry is booming in israel, but constantine is not finding it easy to navigate such

a different job market. with in the at the muscle sco amena and the person, the mental constantine's thoughts are often with his parents at home and st. petersburg. he calls them almost every day, but he believes the decision to emigrate was the right one. okay, let's how do you feel about constantine and his family being here? now, what is the chem horse? we missed cost. yeah. we miss our grandson. yeah. but i already told him in the summer it was no other way. and especially now when mobilization is likely to start again, it's just dangerous to be hands on deck the car. do you feel about the situation in russia? shortsale shop that she to the situation is very upsetting. sad,

disturbing. there's no peace with his own. butler constantine has far fewer of these feelings here in israel. we have a spoke with you personally. i guess i'm calmer. here's another. at times i would lie in bed in russia and hear footsteps on the stairs and think, what's that? no, they didn't come from me. you know, police came yet. but judging by everything i saw on social media, it was very dangerous. they're not to love it, but that was there myself and i was scared umbrella, boston her movie. now of course things are calmer in that respect what she just cognition us with. i'm with machine. yes, buckley, i see a has invited other russian exiles to a living room concert. today, artistic pursuits are her real passion. they give her strength motive. it. they will learning to live here and we're learning to enjoy everything

we experience. blimey. pushing residential, enjoying it is an important part of our life right now. i'm still good because we'll always managed to be sad anyway. good. what, you know, florida we have many difficulties and obstacles to overcome any right. ready mm hm. and i the couple see their future here in israel for now until things change and russia constantine, however, hoped to be able to visit his parents soon. it's winter in saint petersburg, whom we haven't heard from dorian, the young, political activist from the city for a long time. she ignores messages and calls. the lights are off in her apartment.

she rarely posts political content on her channels. did the police intimidate her? i tried to call her one last time i saw them of king dois about so the call went through but she declined it. that's a shame that saw them. i suspect now in winter the pressure has become too much for her as well. what will i take with me from this year in russia? huge upheaval, political unrest, economic chaos, like some were expecting, have so far, failed to materialize. the last vestiges of freedom for dissenters are no longer there. what remains is the realization that any one who is not in support had better keep quiet in the new russia because the country is at war

ah to own or not to own. what about a sharing economy instead? a change in thinking is changing the economy to create something new the economics magazine made in germany in 30 minutes on d w. ah, ah ah, ah

ah ah ah, this is damien is live from berlin. me on march. the 2nd anniversary of a military crew. the overthrow of the elected government de railed a decade of reform protest her stage a silent strike in major cities, leaving streets emptied and shops. clo.