Tens of thousands of Russians protested in the days following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, and thousands were detained. Six months later, only a few brave souls still protest the war, and many of them feel disheartened by their society’s indifference to what they see as barbarism.
A teacher in Russia's Siberia region has been fined for "discrediting the armed forces of the Russian Federation" because he reacted to some anti-war social media posts with emojis.
Speaking out against the war on Ukraine is a dangerous business in Russia, and the state is using all its powers to silence dissenting voices. RFE/RL has spoken to some Russians who, despite the risks, refused to stay silent.
Amidst the pomp of Russia’s uber-patriotic state ceremonies commemorating the Soviet contribution to victory in World War II, more than 100 people across the country were detained for using the occasion to take a stand against the invasion of Ukraine.