Inside Putin's Russia, divided over his war: a soldier, artist and actor speak out

The Guardian speaks to three St Petersburg residents: a soldier, a street artist and an actor, all with very different views on Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine which is nearing its first anniversary.
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Maxim, who has just come back from the frontline, thinks a Putin victory is in clear sight. 'MV Picture' shows her doubt towards the war through her art while Andrey, an actor, isn't quite sure where his loyalties should lie
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#StPetersburg #Russia #Ukraine #War #LifeInRussia #OnTheGround #News

[@lunseren]

Man i just want this war to end.

[@justinwallace390]

The Russian soldiers giving the peace sign with his hand in his photo. Meanwhile they are invading Ukraine. Makes sense.

[@bunnitomoe3866]

Average western knowledge that every russian soldier is evil

[@user-gf8jm2gr5p]

Invading? Bro those foreign kids like you have no clue about this war. It's called denazification. Nobody is invading ukraine, russia is trying to protect DNR and LNR civilians that were being bombed by 8 years straight.

[@mastersafari5349]

"Full metal jacket" reference

[@jaymayhoi]

nice and interesting piece, does remind you that everyone involved is a person wanting to be happy somehow

[@chrisviking7807]

'Who wouldn't like to be a corrupt official' - not me pal! Is it really so hard to find Russians with morals?

[@Bpc8]

You could also say the same about billionaires, no? They have tons of money, rarely ever through doing there own work, and don’t share it

[@lcglefevre]

@@Bpc8 Not to mention they give the most to charity out of anyone and pay literally all the taxes.

[@OldFucker]

@@lcglefevre They dont pay taxes like they should.

[@roseblue3368]

@@lcglefevre thats funny

[@pepelepew1227]

anybody who thinks billionaires pay their proper share of taxes and charities should get a proper education.

[@KenPapara]

Rough situation to say the least

[@maxzytaruk8558]

My gosh they're so Cold

[@matthewburroughs9597]

Brave woman

[@beachcomber3036]

USSR is Turning DPRK Huh .. Putin Jong -un ....

[@olya_sexi-kiss]

Russian fascists understand only strength, and when a Russian opens his mouth, he always lies...

[@PhailingMath]

They lie as they breathe. It is their culture

[@tadpolevinyl7841]

you write about Russians who call themselves Ukrainians and you are right

[@scottfowler3405]

@@PhailingMath you act like russia and the us wouldnt be buddy buddy if the soviete union didnt exist. they are very similar to the us

[@scottfowler3405]

@@PhailingMath with unjust wars and a second amendment

[@eliasziad7864]

You just described America perfectly, Ukrainian Khokholya.

[@terry3494]

Amazing woman..so brave

[@GSSurry]

People with hearing impairment can not hear the words because of the annoying background music.

[@serhiipovisenko]

Story about war criminal, fatalist and opportunist-apologist - all resemble the russian society. True Dostoevsky heritage.

[@Vbluevital]

Dostoevsky's books along with other iconic Russian authors are now banned reading in this current day USSR.

[@AntonPavlovich2000]

@@Vbluevital What..?

[@pepelepew1227]

i have been seeing a lot of chinese playing the villains in movies these days. it used to be japanese, russian & arabs. it's one thing to drink koolaid and another without realising it.

[@MrMrpony]

Where is this MV Picture selling her merch/tees 🤷🏽‍♂️

[@Lolam192]

What's with the lack of emotion and same stone cold face for everything....

[@DashieDe]

Wow how you were able to make this interview?

[@pepelepew1227]

probably made this up. they monitor even youtube channels with 20k subs and people think this is genuine ?? smh 😂

[@its_fabled]

@@pepelepew1227 Yeah, they rebuilt St. Petersburg as a film set to make this up. Most definitely.

[@operaforlife6551]

@@its_fabled ikr xD

[@worldweary1913]

Completley opposite perception as American media depicts it.

[@user-eb3wf4sl3n]

why is Vincent Cassel instead of the Russian guy?

[@psulionz87]

nationalism is a dangerous drug

[@john2335]

If practiced in a healthy/measured way, nothing dangerous about it. If youre a lunatic though, such as the russian population collectively - everithing will pose a danger.

[@pepelepew1227]

you couls say the same for americans standing up for the countless wars, tens of millions killed and plethora of military bases all over the world 😅

[@robgeheim4842]

Stupidity is a choice ...

[@asleepawake3645]

And now, there's a target on these people's backs.

[@operaforlife6551]

Not on the guys, their viewpoints are pro-regime enough to be acceptable I think, as for the artist, I can only assume she had plans ready to leave before this came out, otherwise that would be suicidal.

[@valeriexoxo]

voiceover > subtitles @the guardian

[@feklafeklova4197]

Glory to Ukraine 🇺🇦🇺🇸

[@ab8588]

Like we’re not divided in the west over the war

[@CraigMcDonald1234]

the ruzzian "kids" are saying such awful violent things.....why is this happening?

[@user-cb3jp8tc5h]

One day hopefully soon things will change for you all 🙏🏼. 🇺🇦 🇷🇺

[@boreener4275]

These are NOT Russians and that’s NOT St. Petersburg lol

[@Orc-icide]

Hopefully Maxim got to meet Zhenya at the bottom of the fire pit.

[@lilibr7466]

Hay que ser una persona muy despiadada para invadir sin ser invadido.

[@ellenorbjornsdottir1166]

Interviewees scrolling the comments thread - please try to stay safe. Don't give any more interviews to foreign media without donning a balaclava and requesting a voice changer effect. You might be fatally wrong about the Ukrainians' motives, as well as that of your own leaders, or I might be, but I want you to do what you can to stay safe and healthy and without a target on your back. Glory to the people. Down with tyrants, whatever form they take.

[@ExSkran]

learn from iraq. iraqi's who opposed Saddam's ruthlessness when U.S invaded, later regretted opposing him and now wish they had him back.

[@sourapple6604]

😂 there mind will definitely change once they step into the powerful Ukraine

[@editorrbr2107]

Glad they got Zhenya. You’re next, Maxim

[@nemo9248]

Andrew Lawrence - You Tube

[@strimgames7870]

ntelligente savior 92

[@jamesashley9127]

Cool art but how can she paint over someone's work that was already there just so she can put hers up on top??!! Not cool erasing someone's art like that. She should have found a spot that wasn't already taken. Hopefully that's not what was really happening there at 7:35.

[@MD-kr7xg]

Hello, I'm from Turkey. 🇹🇷There was a big earthquake in my country. Can you help me?

[@user-qe5oi1ii9h]

Weak mechanic 10

[@syarifidayat]

Ouuu yeah soo progressive person, they are perfect person, look at that!

[@katecackett5410]

Russia is a big country so many time zones

[@ChenBeixuancultivatingnshieeet]

big country, so many orcs

[@user-gf8jm2gr5p]

@@ChenBeixuancultivatingnshieeet , another mcdonald kid is talking. Please shut up and listen to your 80 years old joe

[@eliasziad7864]

@@ChenBeixuancultivatingnshieeet This isnt Orcraine, sir.

[@yurichtube1162]

Do one about Ukranians coming of age lol

[@simpdefendmlady6579]

Democracy stops when the Ukrainian boy celebrates his 18th birthday

[@eliasziad7864]

I want to hear more Russian veteran's story.

[@kevinbillington9773]

How did Zalensky get $2 billion in his offshore account within 12 months of being in office, according to the Pandora Papers, just asking for a friend.

[@Reddymk]

Validating views of the criminals. How noble of Guardian.

[@flourbvoy1269]

In what way are they doing that?

[@ab8588]

They’ve been doing that for years. Look at Tony Blair and George Bush

[@simpdefendmlady6579]

Women aren't affected in the slightest, yet they act like they have it worse than the guys being sent to the meat grinder

[@skynet7789]

Что за чушь? Вы журналисты кто делают такие видео, больше всех виновны в войнах

[@olivere5497]

Am i the only Guardian reader who actually wants WW3? We can use it to take care of the climate crisis, migrant crisis, capitalism, the police, monarchy, overpopulation, landlords, the Tories, Kier Starmer, Tony Blair, cost of living, cost of dying and all sorts of otger irksome problems.

[@livingtribunal4110]

Sounds like a WEF-esque plan!

[@olivere5497]

@@livingtribunal4110 wef?

[@pfw4568]

@@olivere5497 WEF=World Economic Forum But i see it in the same way. WW3 could lead to us finally dealing with alot of problems. Just have to take care that it isn't the bankers and trustfund managers which will lead us afterwards.

[@yuvraj9797]

Well Britain's economy is doing worse then Russia. And America is sacrificing western European industries for it's own industries. *Talk about split Loyalties*

[@dondoodat]

Hardly comparable.

[@Vespertilio-Homo]

this is nonsensical

[@Dunning.Kruger]

@@dondoodat Its a fact. Google it.

[@dondoodat]

@@Dunning.Kruger I like the irony of your name with your comment.

[@yellowgreen5229]

British economy is doing worse because just like Russia we chose reactionary politics over ClassWar The British and the Russians both need to throw off the corrupt capitalist tyrants that rule with disinformation and toxic nationalism.

[@madmax5841]

Men in Ukraine aren't allowed to leave their country Society: I sleep Women in Iran aren't allowed to leave the house without head covering Society: wide awake

[@KaleunMaender77]

Those are two very different matters and you know it. Ukraine needs all the manpower it can muster to defend itself against Russia. Iran can freely choose to drop the ban on women requiring headscarves to leave the home, but chooses to be misogynistic and control what women are and are not allowed to do.

[@steffanhoffmann]

@@KaleunMaender77 You can't educate pork. Look at his choice of name.

[@PhailingMath]

@@KaleunMaender77 You're completely right. Unfortunately they're never going to read your response, nor are they even interested in being educated. They're a liar, plain and simple

[@steffanhoffmann]

@@unknownknowable your name would appear to fit your attitude; somewhat perfectly.

[@pepelepew1227]

@@KaleunMaender77 wrong. you must have a lot of screws loose in the logic department 😅 talking about gender equality when men are the only ones forced to fight. wean off koolaid and see the point he's trying to make

[@user-em4pu2gn7x]

Россия ,мы правы ,я из Санкт-Петербурга.Где вы этот фильм взяли?.Интервью брали русскоязычные!!! Вам кто-то его продал!

[@la_dart]

захватническая война - преступление. очередное

[@user-em4pu2gn7x]

@@la_dart Ты видимо молодая из навольнять.Ума у тебя нет от слова совсем , историю не знаешь поэтому-то глупости в твоей голове.

[@Bpc8]

War is bad for all, it only ends is death, should peace not be what we aim for?

[@dhnekdfk]

@@user-em4pu2gn7x Это преступная агрессивная война, развязанная путиным. И не надо быть молодым или старым, чтобы это видеть.

[@user-em4pu2gn7x]

@@dhnekdfk Ошибаетесь, очень сильно. Возраст ни причём.Дело в аналитике фактов и историческом образовании, которого у вас нет.

[@pauchel.lozano26]

A victory for Ukraine means WW3. I stand for world peace that is why I pray for a Russian victory.

[@nathanayers8439]

I am honestly interested in your logic behind that

[@pauchel.lozano26]

@@nathanayers8439 use your own logic. You'll figure it out

[@pauchel.lozano26]

Sure lets go together

[@ellenorbjornsdottir1166]

The RF decided to invade another country and do things which amount to genocide, and you are defending the RF. Utterly incomprehensible.

[@pauchel.lozano26]

@@ellenorbjornsdottir1166 Remind me again what happened to the Cuban crisis?

[@ashokindian36]

Zelensky will definitely destroy Ukraine to rubbles 🤣

[@axelrose9383]

In your dream.

[@Draga01]

Found the bot/Paid commenter.

[@ashokindian36]

@@axelrose9383 in real see the photos 😂

[@user-zk7mr2nl3f]

Ashok you will pay big price for immorality. If you are Indian you should know what dharma means. Ukrainian people are protecting LIFE, russian army commited a war crime and all the passive supporters of killing children, wooman, old people, will be responsible and face force of jastice.

[@pepelepew1227]

@@user-zk7mr2nl3f so ukraine is facing dharma (more like karma) for helping nato members slaughter 1,2 million iraqis and sanctioning myrotvorets ?? based on your logic, poland's iraqi karma should be next.