(Dan Tri) – After visiting the Great Victory museum, which honors the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany, two tourists said that today’s situation is no different from World War II: Russia is under attack.
Russian armored vehicles were sent to exercise with Belarus on January 19 (Photo: AP).
`America really wants to start this war,` said Olga A. Petrova, a retired Ukrainian citizen, referring to the simmering conflict between Russia and the West over Ukraine.
`NATO wanted to send troops to our borders, they looked for our weaknesses and discovered Ukraine,` she said, adding that the Americans `didn’t even know where Ukraine was on the map`.
Ms. Petrova’s view that the United States is fomenting war between Russia and Ukraine also reflects the thoughts of many other Russians, including her running mate, Tamara N. Ivanova.
Russians debate a range of domestic issues, such as the government’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic or rising inflation.
The Levada Center, one of the few independent polling units in Russia, said 50% of Russians see the US and NATO as the cause of escalating tensions.
Ivanova said she could clearly see how Ukrainians and Westerners `have been brainwashed`.
In response, sociologist Sergei Belanovsky, who studies public opinion, said that many other Russians, especially young people, are not very interested in the political situation.
Attending a retrospective show about the life and career of famous rock musician Viktor Tsoi at the exhibition hall opposite the Kremlin, Yana Yakushkina, a 20-year-old medical student said: `All the controversy
Darya Rokysheva, a 19-year-old student participating in the show, also said she does not care much about politics, and believes conflicts happen `between governments, not between countries`.
Sergei Belanovsky, a sociologist who studies public opinion, said that young people today have a mentality of indifference to the problems facing the country.
`Russia is under siege`
However, even those who may oppose the Kremlin when it comes to Ukraine and relations with the West think Russia is under siege, Belanovsky said.
Aleksei Izotov, 45, an information technology entrepreneur, is one of them.
Izotov said he does not like to watch state television but only watches news from the internet.
`Russian society does not want war, but most think it is inevitable,` said Ivan Preobrazhensky, an independent political analyst.
However, Mr. Belanovsky said, if it comes to a real war with real weapons and real casualties, then the attitude of Russians may change.
`I think such news will definitely impact people who are not interested in politics. Then the reaction is mainly negative,` he said.
Arseny Filippov, 22 years old, said he saw the consequences that Russia could suffer due to the current tense situation.
Nick John