How four years of Ukraine war have changed Russia
Al Jazeera • • world
Key Points:
- Nearly four years into Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russian combat deaths have surpassed 186,000, far exceeding losses in the Soviet-Afghan War, while millions of Ukrainians remain displaced or enduring conflict impacts.
- Western Russian border regions like Kursk and Belgorod have experienced frequent Ukrainian attacks, leading locals to grow accustomed to the violence, whereas major cities such as Moscow and St. Petersburg face mainly economic inconveniences and limited direct war effects.
- Despite widespread public support for the war, likely influenced by strict anti-dissent laws and state media control, opinions among Russians vary from initial skepticism to hardened nationalism or growing apathy toward the conflict.
- Some Russian soldiers and citizens, such as Alexander Medvedev, have become
