the intensifying anti-Russian sentiment among Ukrainians that is directed at the average Russian,

[yaesu]

Journalist Neil Hauer, a freelancer journalist reporting in Kyiv, has an interesting Tweet thread about the intensifying anti-Russian sentiment among Ukrainians that is directed at the average Russian, not just Vladamir Putin.

@NeilPHauer
Something I've noticed over the past week or so here: almost every Ukrainian I spoke to has made it clear that they blame not only Putin, but the average Russian as much (or more) for this war. The view is: we overthrew our corrupt government, and they accept their murderous one.

The amount of animosity from the average Ukrainian towards the average Russian is already huge and growing more with every single new airstrike, every new civilian death. The effects of this war will last for generations.

And I'm saying this from Kharkiv. I think I saw more virulently anti-Russian views here than anywhere else in the country. The sense of betrayal here, of 'how could they possibly do this to *us*', is incredible.

The people we watched crawl out of the rubble today told us their relatives in Moscow didn't believe them. Videos of their destroyed home were met with 'it's a fake' or 'Nazis did it.' *Every* bond between Ukrainians & Russians - familial, cultural, historical - is being broken.

[Scrivener7]

1. They have a point. When 30% of the country is anti-war, the other 70%

has to know something is up, and their denial borders very close to complicity.

Especially the parents telling their soldier children that the soldier is not seeing what he or she says they are seeing because "Russia wouldn't do that."

[AntiFascist]

2. Russians who oppose the war could go on a massive strike...

would they all be arrested for that?

[paleotn]

5. COULD they all be arrested for that.

Sometimes you reach a point where the 1/2 that were paid to kill the other half throw up their hands and quite as well. East Germany at the fall of the Berlin wall for instance.

[Lonestarblue]

6. Russians have turned a blind eye on Putin for most of his time in office.

They knew of the atrocities committed by the Russian army in Grozny and the leveling of that city. They stood by while Putin attacked and occupied parts of Georgia, using a fake excuse that Georgians were committing genocide. Since 2008, Russia has encroached ever further into Georgia. And simply annexing Crimea was certainly known as a violation of international law. While the Russian propaganda machine is always active, most Russians have had access to the Internet and international news for many years. Yet there has never been more than small protests against Putin, even when he has murdered opponents. Even when he poisoned Navalny and then jailed him illegally.

The Russian population most likely resembles ours in terms of the divisions we have with Trump supporters who think he walks on water and will sit at the right hand of God versus the many of us who prefer reality but have a hard time stopping the Republican Trumpists like Abbott and DeSantis. Putin has his fan club who believes he can do no wrong, but most of the country has to know that he is a criminal.

[BootinUp]

10. This actually makes a lot of sense. nt

[Bernardo de La Paz]

3. 1917 Russia troops coming back from useless war against Germany tipped the country into Revolution

Putin is either creating that scenario or creating a new siege of Leningrad, the siege that killed his own brother, In this case the target is Kyiv and it will beat Putin,

or

Putin is creating a new Russian Revolution.

[Evolve Dammit]

4. The propaganda has so far held. Russians will decide the future. Soon I hope. n/t

[Traildogbob]

7. It's like

Looking into a mirror of our future. The brain dead virus has taken hold. GQP are in bed with and playing Putin play book, with full support of Fox. Russia has no free speech, so they can not counter. We have it, but the media will not use it, for fear of not getting GQP on their shows, or are forbidden by corporate media. We are becoming pathetic. Shinning light on a hill……more like a tiny birthday candle in rainy wind storm. Hangin on to a sliver of what democracy we may have left.

[Evolve Dammit]

8. I totally agree, and was thinking today how close it came on 1/6. As long as the Orange Chosen One

and his ilk are out there, they are rabid and without souls. We will have to deal with them, as the divide is now a chasm. I knew when Drumpf ran that this was a very plausible outcome, but had always hoped I was wrong. The pro-Nazi shit started showing up on local playgrounds in summer 2015 and I realized then who had given the green light for scum to come out.

[Traildogbob]

15. As pro Natzee as you can be

Why it blows my mind when MTG uses NATO Natzeeee as bad, when she goes to their rallies to speak and cheer on Narzeeee agenda. You would think every repug would be 100 percent behind Ukraine and their Natzeee majority. (No need for sarcasm emoji here).

[Evolve Dammit]

19. Yeah and all the talk of "neo-nazis in Ukraine. Does she have a clue Zelensky is Jewish? JFC.

[BootinUp]

9. Such a tragedy. nt

[DetlefK]

11. Grievances like this last multiple generations. Take a look at the Balkan War:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yugoslav_Wars
The Serbians and the Croatians had lived side-by-side in the same country for half a century after WWII... Yet they could not forget that they had fought on different sides in WWII. They never really trusted each other after WWII... and this hidden hatred eventually erupted in a bloody civil war half a century later.



It will take about a century before Ukraine will be willing to forgive Russia. 1100 years of shared history and culture, simply undone.

[DetlefK]

12. And the worst part is: This will cause the Russians to retreat even deeper into their fantasy-world.

I've read a russian article where the author bemoaned how the russian peoples (Russia, Belarus, Ukraine) had been splintered after the collapse of the Soviet-Union. He was overjoyed that the conquest of Ukraine would reunite the russian civilization.

To the Russians it doesn't matter that it was them who drove Ukraine away. Russia already has this siege-mentality that everyone is out to get them. It's always everybody else's fault.



The russian history-books will cook up a story how the evil West stole Ukraine and brainwashed its peoples into hating Russia. Glorious Leader Putin tried to save Ukraine, but it was too late: They had already all been corrupted by the West.

The Russians will NOT accept that its their fault that Ukraine now hates them.

[larwdem]

13. well

I feel the same way about the republicans here.

[SheltieLover]

14. Certainly understandable imo!

[CloudWatcher]

16. I can confirm this .... (one data point)

My friend -- a Ukrainian refugee now -- has zero sympathy for the average Russian that doesn't risk getting arrested in protests and just accepts all the deaths from this war. I try and suggest it's the Russian government, not the people ... but she's not hearing it.

She's out of the country and safe now, but (of course) has survivor's guilt and is considering going back before the war is over.

On the other hand, her mother lives near Kharkiv and is still (!!) supporting Russia. Needless to say they don't talk much anymore.

[Shanti Shanti Shanti]

17. WHY? THEY ARE THE SAME PEOPLE, Dear Leader is to blame

[Shanti Shanti Shanti]

18. Its natural to fight back against anything, wrong or right