Russian PTSD
Many of us lived with decades of the Cold War and hatred of the USSR (Russia).
Now there is a war against Russia and it has become a replacement for the Cold War.
Pretty much
They view Russia as still soviet and Putin as an absolute dictator
Both wholly untrue
Russia is a largely capitalist oligarchy run by a strongman who faces actual elections and can be removed
Right now Putin still commands huge popular support as does this war in Russia
They see it as a war to free Russian ethnics in Donbass who’ve endured a heavy handed Ukraine since 2014 and actually even before that
A view I am sympathetic to having watching literally 100s of videos with the inhabitants and Putin press conferences where yes he’s asked repeatedly contentious questions
The further west one goes in Ukraine the less Russian ethnics and support for the Russian invasion
In Odessa for example support is maybe 60-70% unlike Donetsk where it’s 95%
One thing is people are afraid to speak lest ukranians come back
They fear the SBU and with good reason