Far from Ukraine, Muscovites seek normalcy

Away from the invasion of Russia to Ukraine, spring seems to bloom quietly in the russian capitalwhere Muscovites gather in restaurants, theaters and sunny streets.

Although many show indifference, others do not hide the concern inspired by the confrontations, the international sanctions against Russia and the repression against any form of criticism of power.

But despite all the restaurants are full. In a yellow and pink cafe, wearing festive hats, three young people celebrate a birthday. Between laughter, they immortalize themselves in a selfie.

“You can’t read the news all the time,” says one of them, named Olessia, who doesn’t want to give her last name. “We have to keep living. Birthdays come and we celebrate them, ”she adds, not wanting to give her opinion on Ukraine.

Russia has been subject to several waves of Western sanctions, the effects of which will be felt with particular force in a few months. For now, inflation is up.

The president of Russia, Vladimir Putin, who claims to enjoy the support of the population, affirms that these punitive measures have failed, despite the rise in prices and the closure of numerous companies.

In Moscow, beyond the disappearance of the big Western firms, the lack of basic consumer goods is not felt. And Muscovites have not neglected leisure.

The cultural places are as popular as the bars. Alexander has arranged to meet his friends at a contemporary art fair near Red Square. He too has carefully groomed himself, eager to meet someone interesting.

“You have to travel, look at beautiful paintings, focus on the positive,” said the 40-year-old, who has just lost his job in the international trade sector due to sanctions.

In addition, according to him, being aware of what is happening in Ukraine with official television is impossible because “you become a zombie,” he stresses, without wanting to give his full name.

Opposite the Kremlin is the GES-2, a contemporary art museum that opened its doors in 2021 in a former power plant thanks to the investment of an oligarch from the gas sector.

It was inaugurated by Putin and the place wanted to separate artistic freedom from the increasingly repressive political context. But the conflict in Ukraine made this goal unattainable.

“Normal was before”

Since the beginning of the offensive, on February 24, the museum has put an end to its exhibitions and invited visitors to come and relax listening to a sound installation.

Andrei, a 26-year-old civilian pilot, has come to clear his head for a while because if he doesn’t “read too much news.” Due to the sanctions that affect air transport, this man hardly makes any flights. Most of the Airbuses and Boeings that Russia has would be confiscated if they leave Russian territory.

“I don’t have any prospects in my career,” he says. “Normal was before February 24,” he adds, explaining that the first days of the offensive he was in shock and he couldn’t separate himself from the news.

“I was in the army when Crimea (Ukrainian peninsula) was annexed” by Russia in 2014, he recalls. “He was happy, he was a patriot and he thought: ‘we have a super country, we will have a super future,’” he details, without wanting to give his full name either.

Disillusionment followed: “I saw the repression and thought: ‘How is this possible in the 21st century?’”

Not far away, Eleonora Jalmetova, a 25-year-old computer scientist, strolls along the Moskova River. The young woman, who works in London, came to visit her parents for the first time in two years. For her, life in Moscow has changed a lot.

“People spoke freely. Now, a teacher friend told me: ‘Let’s go out to the street to talk’ for fear of being heard, ”she said.

“The people who went to the demonstrations no longer see the point. Everything is prohibited. Many friends left, first for moral reasons and second to have a better life”, she assures.