According to Aleksei, interviewed by Iltalehti, any Russian can be at the front. Aleksei has friends in Ukraine.
According to estimates, hundreds of thousands have fled Russia. Illustration image. EPA/AOP
– Russia is full of horror. People are panicking. You in Finland can’t even comprehend the situation.
Russian sports journalist Alexei made a difficult decision when the President Vladimir Putin told about a partial motion proposal.
Aleksei bought a pink children’s bike and rode across the border without knowing why he could return home. He did not come to Finland. Aleksei does not want more detailed information to be made public, as he fears for his safety.
– The prices of adult bikes were three or four times higher than normal. It would have taken two days to get out by car.
Due to the sensitivity of the matter, Aleksei does not appear in this story under his own name. According to him, Russia’s talk about men being called to the front is not true.
– Anyone can be called to war. It is said that only the young and those with military training are sent to war in the first wave. In the very first days, it became clear that people are invited completely randomly. Sick people and people over 50 are taken into the war.
Going to the front is not an option for Aleksei.
– I would rather go to prison than to the army. The thought of having to kill an innocent person and live with it is terrifying. I won’t let anyone ruin my life.
– I won’t kill anyone because of Putin.
The independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta reported that Russia’s FSB security service calculated that at least 261,000 Russian men left the country in the first four days after Putin’s announcement.
The terrors took the night’s sleep
The partial launch of traffic caused queues of cars at border crossings. Illustration image. Matti Matikainen
Russia started a war of aggression in Ukraine on February 24. The day was hard for Aleksei, because he has friends in Ukraine.
– I couldn’t sleep for a week. This is a horrible and criminal war.
– Even we Russians cannot comprehend what has happened in Ukraine for the past six months. Reading about horrors or watching them on TV is one thing, but living in the middle of those things is a completely different thing.
According to Aleksei, many of his colleagues have fled Russia since the start of the campaign. They do remote work from anywhere.
The only motivator is money.
– No one is interested in internal competitions in Russia. We work on autopilot to even get some kind of salary. It is now impossible to find a new job in Russia. You can find one if you become a soldier.
Aleksei is sad that many European countries have closed their borders to Russians or stopped issuing visas. He considers the activity a political game.
– Europe plays into the pocket of the Russian state and propagandists. Those who don’t get out of Russia will end up in war. They have to shoot the Ukrainians. Do you want it?
– Bridges should not be built, but torn down. Russian society is sick. It must be taken care of and helped, not left alone.
“I hate the government”
Vladimir Putin ordered a partial implementation of the movement just over a week ago. EPA/AOP
Aleksei does not know how long he will have to be away from his homeland. Possibly half a year, maybe longer.
Despite everything, he still wants to return to Russia someday. Aleksei still has family in the country.
– I love my country, but I hate the government. I hope this government collapses and everyone can go back to Russia.
It is certain that Aleksei will not return to Russia as long as the war in Ukraine continues.