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🇦🇹 Austria /Culture & Society

"Russia at War": A population between apathy, fear, and resistance

From Der Standard · () German

Translated from German, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • A documentary film on Arte offers rare insights into how war and propaganda have shaped and divided Russian society over four years.
  • The film depicts a divided society caught between pervasive war propaganda and resistance, contrasting public apathy with the reality of conflict.
  • It highlights the disconnect between the official narrative and the lived experiences of citizens, questioning how people could appear unaffected by the war's onset.

A documentary film on the Arte channel provides a rare look at how four years of war and propaganda have impacted and divided Russian society. Titled "Russia at War," the film explores the pervasive war propaganda, such as posters proclaiming "Serve with honor, return as a hero," and contrasts it with the reality of resistance and societal division.

Journalist Julia recounts her disbelief on February 24, 2022, the day Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. She expected massive protests and was stunned to see people walking through the streets, seemingly cheerful and going about their daily lives. This disconnect between the momentous event and the apparent public indifference forms a central theme.

Serve with honor, return as a hero

— PosterA slogan seen on a poster in Russia, representing the pervasive war propaganda.

The film portrays a society grappling with the consequences of the conflict, showing a population caught between the state's narrative and the lived experiences of those affected by the war. It raises questions about how citizens perceive and react to a conflict that has profoundly altered the lives of many.

I went through the streets and just couldn't believe it. How could people just walk around so cheerfully? What was wrong with them?

— JuliaA Moscow photojournalist recalling her reaction to the public's apparent indifference on the day Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Der Standard in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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