This is an incredible, moving video. Everyone should watch it. You are such an important ambassador for Russians of your generation to the wider world, Roman, and I hope you continue to use your platform to speak out. You're very young, but you have such insight and awareness of the world around you (and beyond you) and you communicate it so clearly to the rest of us. There are not many KZreadrs that I can say have become "essential watching" the way your channel has.

@fightingfinn1503

2 жыл бұрын

Good vids btw

@s21b0b

2 жыл бұрын

An amazing comment from an amazing KZreadr...

@gimicio.talloni

2 жыл бұрын

Well said J.J.

@techalgia

2 жыл бұрын

Spot on comment.

@alexialu4224

2 жыл бұрын

A video with one of my favourite youtubers talking and another of them commenting, what a great day.

As a Finn, I remember how in the 90s there was hope that Russia would become a free country and there was a lot of trade and tourism between Russia and Finland. Then Putin became president and everything changed. I did my military service in the navy in 2003 and remember how Russian submarines would regularly enter Finnish territorial waters to test our readiness, just like in the Soviet days (Cold War style). My job was to identify the vessels from their propeller noise (acoustic signature). This became an almost daily occurrence after Putin came to power and they've been even more aggressive since then. Finland is now joining NATO, something it would not have even considered had Putin not invaded Ukraine. You're right, Roman. It's not the same country as before.

@intellectualexperience7948

2 жыл бұрын

I guess even Finland is done trying to be cool with the bully

@TheMrPyatka

2 жыл бұрын

It never was. Since 1991 power in Russia was taken over by people, who value power and money more than well being of citizens. Alcotard Yeltsin was nothing but a puppet.

@VNExperience

2 жыл бұрын

@@intellectualexperience7948 Russia has already responded with a threat that "joining NATO will lead to Finland's destruction". Finland's leadership understands that Russia sees us as a threat whether or not we're in NATO. A 2018 lecture about Russia by a retired Finnish intelligence officer has gone viral after the invasion of Ukraine. I highly recommend watching it, subtitles in English are available: kzread.info/dash/bejne/nXptrdSepLvXeto.html

@VNExperience

2 жыл бұрын

@@TheMrPyatka You're right, it never was a free country. What you described seems to be a general theme in Russian leadership, unfortunately.

@TheMrPyatka

2 жыл бұрын

@@VNExperience its a general theme of any superpower. Until human consciousness will view governing as "power" and not as "responsibility" nothing will change.

Hello there Roman. My name is Yarik, and until the middle of a last month I lived in Mariupol, Ukraine. The war hit my family very hard, we lost our house, we lost some of our pets, we lost our live savings and most sadly we lost some of our relatives and friends. Nobody that is sane and have brains that from our town supports what russian government did to us, to our home. But we still believe that they are some decent people in Russia left and that they will leading it soon, not the corrupted imperialistic psychos that now in charge

@robo__cop8154

2 жыл бұрын

intresting please talk about what you have done to people of mariupol ?plese tell me about gobnzalo lira .kidnapped by sbu why ?what about azov batallion ?have they perpetrated crimes o not.i am glad my country india refused to support ukraine

@zarikvarik1177

2 жыл бұрын

@@robo__cop8154 Mariupol? Russians fucking destroyed it, when we left there was a lot of civilians on a streets in russian side, it was so fucking scary... Azov were the ones who gave the possibilities to safely go to Berdyansk and Zaporizhia Gonzalo Lira? I honestly didn't know who the guy is, he might be dead due to russian bombs, he might be in a shelter with no Internet or sbu might have thought that he's an russian provocator (and honestly, from what I've read rn he had it coming). Azov batallion from my point of view heroically protecting our city from the real nazis here (russian soldiers), when chechen marauders gived stolen food under mask of a "humanitarian help". Azov might have done some shit in the past, in 2014-15 tho, not gonna lie.

@davidbasset7557

2 жыл бұрын

@@zarikvarik1177 what “shit” do they do in the past (2014-2015)?

@polishherowitoldpilecki5521

2 жыл бұрын

@@zarikvarik1177 why didn’t Azov battalion, fight Russian soldiers outside the city. Why hide in the city? They deliberately used civilians as shields.

@zarikvarik1177

2 жыл бұрын

@@polishherowitoldpilecki5521 Why Red Army fought in the Stalingrad?

I was born in Moscow in 1996 and I can tell ya'll that Roman has described the experience of a whole goddamn generation in this video. Props to you man. I relate to everything you said. The state our country is in right now is soul-crushing. This is not the bright future we were promised as kids. Still I'm praying for peace and freedom everyday, despite my severe depression even. Nothing and no one is eternal you guys. We will get through.

@MrCreeperYT_Official

2 жыл бұрын

The only entity that is eternal is the Holy Trinity AMEN!!! And also do you still live in Russia?

@XawiKrishna

2 жыл бұрын

@@MrCreeperYT_Official I do.

@XawiKrishna

Жыл бұрын

@mail box "relatives" huh

@Nathsters

Жыл бұрын

@@XawiKrishna hows it going over there?

@XawiKrishna

Жыл бұрын

@@Nathsters not good. Gen X is mostly brainwashed by propaganda, there is an ongoing inner conflict in most families I know. The economic damage is mounting as well. People are being persecuted for the most insane shit. So yeah, it's not looking too good for us.

Roman, I am here in Ukraine fighting. Today has been relatively quiet but we are sure this battle will get very intense. We will fight to the very end, but your videos help me to know that not every Russian is our enemy. I hope you are well and we can all live in peace and freedom. It’s strange, we are about the same age and I am now a soldier and you are far from home because an old man wants to be a tzar. But don't worry, we will stop him. What a crazy time to live and die. тримайтеся, брати українці. слава україні! 2 May Update: привіт to all. I forgot I made this post, and wanted to say: We are still alive! I am shocked in a positive way. My unit was first near Kyiv and now in the east (this is all I can say for our security). We are planning something big for them in the next few weeks, so stay tuned... I have seen such courage in our entire nation, I am honored to be born Ukrainian. Thank you for the kind words, we are holding on! до перемоги! 10 June: well friends, I think this is my last hours. My unit has taken losses here in Luhansk Oblast. I think we are completely surrounded, but we will fight to the very end. I must say I feel totally at peace, I made a lot of mistakes in my life but it has been an honor to defend my country for these months. I feel free and calm. It was an honor to live 25 years as a free Ukrainian, maybe the next generation will live their whole life as one. We will defend to the very end. слава Україні

@Tilt_TM

2 жыл бұрын

Godspeed

@tomzzx

2 жыл бұрын

Godspeed! Don't give up. Russians are not the enemy, the regime is - don't forget that. ♥️🇭🇷🇺🇦 Good luck🤞

@mr.b7004

2 жыл бұрын

🙏💙💛

@scottduffy6654

2 жыл бұрын

Slava Ukraine

@eevaya

2 жыл бұрын

May you and your family stay safe. Slava Ukraina!

My wife (Russian) feels the same. This turned her from wanting our son to have the Russian citizenship to her wanting to get naturalised. Part of her identity got simply crushed.

@persianguy1524

2 жыл бұрын

Dont think she had much of an identity if she already mixed

@terrorgaming459

2 жыл бұрын

America keeps destroying nations its a problem saction them immediately

@proger1960

2 жыл бұрын

@@persianguy1524 *-100000 IQ logic*

@martiddy

2 жыл бұрын

@@persianguy1524 Your comment doesn't make any sense at all

@jouille4524

2 жыл бұрын

@@persianguy1524 what

as a Russian, I can tell this is exactly how I feel right now. Thank you for this video, it gives hope that we can overcome this regime one day

@the_uglysteve6933

2 жыл бұрын

The hatred for russia is like nothing I have known. I am British Norwegian, my father used to tell me about how much the Germans were hated. Now he says russains, russia and the putin regime are worse. Our future generations might forgive this war, but don't expect it for 80 years

@tanyabrown4580

2 жыл бұрын

Russia had so much potential , it was on the rise to become a sort of liberal country. Now those dreams are destroyed by one megalomaniac man. His power needs to be revoked and that of many surrounding him. I have hope for the future of Russia but it will be a long and painful endeavor

@user-bq3cx3cd8j

2 жыл бұрын

@@the_uglysteve6933 Do you personally think this is good tho? I believe that hating people only for their nationality/place of birth is never the right thing. We never know what a person thinks and stands for, and assuming anything without talking to them is a pejudice

@mclovin2155

2 жыл бұрын

@@user-bq3cx3cd8j there will be a lot of shortsighted hate for a while. People with brains that function know that people are people, and Russians are usually friendly and cool to talk to.

@Fressor1

2 жыл бұрын

Как русский, скажу что ты куколд)

Born in Russia in 1993. I feel EXACTLY the same. This is what is really happening to our generation right now.

@isaywhateveriwantandyougot7421

Жыл бұрын

Just let it be known that despite all the patriots calling you an invader and hater of Ukraine, there are still people like me who can see the bigger picture. I am with you 'till the end!

I’m Russian and I couldn’t hold back my tears by the end of this video. The country I was born in had everything to become equal to other modern European countries. Until a madman, a psychopath, a monster decided that he is a chosen one and he can become a monarch. And now the country I was born in doesn’t exist anymore. I can’t calm down because that’s my personal tragedy as well UPD: thanks to everyone for your support, I really appreciate it ❤️

@DonnaGainesvillesGatorGirl

2 жыл бұрын

💔

@OlgasBritishFells

2 жыл бұрын

I feel the same, even though I am out of the country, I feel like part of my cultural identity was being destroyed by the system itself. I also can't accept it or understand it neither with my mind nor with my heart how the majority of the population of my people actually genuinely support the regime. It's the greatest tragedy of my people.

@gabrieldantas63

2 жыл бұрын

Interesting how Russians say Putin is a monarch/dictator yet keep voting for him. Last time he got elected with 63% of votes... It's pretty close to a loss

@user-cn7xh9nd9y

2 жыл бұрын

I feel horrible. I am 27 and now I understand that my entire life was useless from the start. no matter how you were born or what you do with your life you was fucked from the beginning. I understand that I never gonna have children, that all my efforts don’t matter.

@OlgasBritishFells

2 жыл бұрын

@@gabrieldantas63 I personally, and my family and friends never vote for him. Interesting how you believe that the elections in Russia are actually proper democratic elections. Do you honestly not think they are not rigged?

As an Iranian I relate to this so much... I'm also 23 (about to become 24 in a week) and I feel like my youth and a chance to have a happy life has been taken away from me and my generation by an oppressive regime. For us who live in these kinda countries daydreaming is all we have. future aspirations and hopes are nothing to us but a reminder of our misery and pain, a reminder of our lost life, nothing but fuels for depression.

@slowpoke299

2 жыл бұрын

I don’t have a future anymore

@balocharyanwarrior5020

2 жыл бұрын

Hahahah just relax, its the same in America as well.

@pitzkale

2 жыл бұрын

@@balocharyanwarrior5020 Except it isn't, Mr. Putin Bot

@EmyN

2 жыл бұрын

And a country with an unmotivated youth does not grow

@tomrosenzweig1654

2 жыл бұрын

@@balocharyanwarrior5020 dude it’s not

Even though we're on completely opposite sides of the world and from completely different cultures the idea of "this country had so much potential and now it's all going to shit" resonates with me so much. Greetings from Brazil.

@fluttzkrieg4392

Жыл бұрын

Impossível não concordar...

@pezvonpez

Жыл бұрын

I heard that with the new president things might get better in Brazil, is that true?

@vitorpavani7125

Жыл бұрын

​@@pezvonpez Just like the USA, Brazil is a very polarized country right now and people are going nuts over politics. Some people see recently elected president Lula da Silva as the Antichrist himself, others see him as the savior of the poor and weak. No matter what i say, chances are another Brazilian will come around, say the exact opposite and call me a communist or a nazi because that's how things are right now. That being said: i think Lula da Silva is a lesser evil than the former president Jair Bolsonaro. But i don't see things getting much better. Even though he's not an anti-vaxxer / pro-military dicatorship / Donald Trump's little b1tch, Lula was very recently sentenced and imprisoned for corruption and could only run for office because the whole criminal process was deemed null in very shady circumstances. To add insult to injury, in many ocasions he showed public support for left leaning dictators such as Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro and Nicaragua's Daniel Ortega and pushed for agendas that are very questionable in terms of democratic stability. His past is also very controversial. Lula served as president for two consecutive terms (2003-2010). Even thought he gathered appraisal for his relative success in reducing extreme poverty, his government was stained by corruption scandals and wasted opportunities. So there's a love/hate relationship towards him depending on who you ask. So some people will say that now everything will be fine, some people will say that Brazil is going to hell. I don't see things changing too much to be honest and that's terrifying.

@edgarfrreiracongalves6677

Жыл бұрын

@@pezvonpez Yes, things are slowly getting better now with our new president Lula da Silva

@TheIFerreiraoliveira

8 ай бұрын

@@edgarfrreiracongalves6677 i did vote for him also but i keep thinking, is it?

Спасибо тебе за это видео. Пересмотрел его наверное раз 10 уже. Сам свинтил из россии еще в 2016м году. Живу теперь в Канаде. Стремился уехать как можно дальше от богоспасаемого отечества еще с 2008го. А после крыма все стало понятно. Аналогии бросались в глаза. Аншлюс австрии фашистской германией... Всем говорил что это 1937 год и скоро будет 1939й. Но никто не верил. Думали что я поехавший или предатель (я не шучу. Работал на заводе инженером и как крым захватили там такой патриотичный угар был что я не мог перестать охреневать). И вот пришел 1939й. Скинул твой ролик моим канадским знакомым и коллегам чтобы примерно понимали что происходит изнутри. Спасибо.

I'm from Finland, and i sometimes talk about how amazing it would be if Russia was a peaceful country with my dad - such a separate culture and some amazing places to visit, a stones throw away, just over the border. I could go visit Estonia right now, the cruise ticket would cost me 20 euros and the biggest hassle would be finding a parking spot near the port, imagine if visiting Russia was the same! The economic benefits of that would be pretty decent too. Sadly the biggest thing Russia has ever provided Finland with is a constant, and at the moment, ever growing, threat.

@smichastine

2 жыл бұрын

Why can’t you visit Russia?

@ozzy_fromhell

2 жыл бұрын

Because like they said Russia is just being a bigger threat and threatening them daily

@samisha5834

2 жыл бұрын

Im half Russian and i also wish we were friends with Finland. I love Finland and admire all nordic countries. Keep up being civilized amid this fucked up world!

@MissHmusicK

2 жыл бұрын

Omgg! This is so true. I visit Tallinn and Estonia many times a year. But I have never been to Russia and now it seems like I never will. Before covid it was the Russians who visited Finland and bought Finnish goods such as cheese and dish soap.

@LawlTwins

2 жыл бұрын

Astounding English mate.

Reminds me of the phrase "The world you were born into no longer exists." This is an incredible video and hearing your perspective is always enjoyable and educational.

@memoranda1

2 жыл бұрын

old values , old culture.....identity......everything that was from last century, they will try delete it with censorship .....so once al the kids from 1900s are gone......it will be mission accomplished for them. Didn't think it would happen so soon but damn man...they're moving at the speed of light....just look at how society was in 2010 compared to now.....you kinda miss it......

@varvarvarvarvarvar

2 жыл бұрын

I'm afraid we're looking at a Peter Pan kind of situation here.

@Skypie61

2 жыл бұрын

Great title to a book for Roman to consider regsrding his generation in Russia: The World you were born into, no longer exists...👍❤🤗

@tolrem

2 жыл бұрын

"The past is another country." as the saying goes.

@maksimblya192

2 жыл бұрын

True for Americans as well unfortunately.

Роман, я родилась в 1979, почти вдвое старше тебя. Могу добавить, что мое поколение ещё застало конец афганской войны, Развал СССР, войну в Чечне, криминальные 90-е и примерно с 2000 года жизнь стала налаживаться и как-то очень быстро нормализовалась. Страшно смотреть, как так же быстро все полетело в пропасть. Главное отличие между нами 20 летними и вами - мы были абсолютно нищие, но с огромными возможностями и перспективами. Сейчас у молодежи отобрали и то, и другое. Каждому поколению наше правительство ставит подножку. Доколе?

@gandibaat3637

Жыл бұрын

Я помню середину конец девяностых, я был в России и учился в младших классах. Тогда денег не было совсем, и еды иногда не было. Но жизнь ощутимо улучшалась каждый месяц, и это было очень приятное чувство - знать и чувствовать, что дальше будет только лучше. Сейчас жизнь намного сытнее и обеспеченнее, но того чувства, что чем дальше, тем лучше - нету.

@linamatusov9283

Жыл бұрын

@@gandibaat3637 Мы с мужем поженились очень молодыми, в 21 год. Оба поступили в аспирантуру, мы биохимики. С 2003 года муж начал активно работать в Австрии, он выиграл грант на три года. Я тоже с ним немного поработала и в 2011 мы по работе поехали в Канаду, и тут остались, уже гражданство получили. У нас была масса возможностей по трудоустройству. Молодых ученых из России охотно брали во все университеты Европы и Северной Америки. Визы и разрешения на работу выдавали без каких-либо проблем, ограничений и проволочек. Я все ещё поверить не могу, насколько все поменялось за каких-то несколько месяцев.

Hey Roman, just found your channel and was really touched by this video. I'm an American born in '93, learned Russian in school. I've been visiting Russia almost every year since 2011. It's not my country and I don't have any family ties there, but it always welcomed me like a second home. When I first started going, there was something in the air that was really exhilarating and it felt much freer than my own country in so many ways. What you said about younger people is right - you guys were always so scrappy, resourceful, insanely astute. I always admired that and probably would've been intimidated by you all if you hadn't also been such genuinely kind people as well. Most of my friends have fled to other countries or gone completely quiet on social media. I really miss and worry for them. I also worry for my friends in the older generation for the reasons you mentioned. I worry for your country as much as I do Ukraine. It feels like a heartbreak, I think about it pretty much every day.

It's absolutely insane. I work in software development in Czech, and I've met many Russians, Ukrainians, Kazakhs etc through my work. Just as you are saying, they are amazing people, both brilliant and eager to learn, and very respectful. While nobody can deny that the atrocities happening in Ukraine are hard to even comprehend, the fact that an entire generation of Russian youth have been robed of hope for good future is also very saddening.

@solovyeva-altarce1894

2 жыл бұрын

I have studied art and history in Czechia and tons of my friends were from all the corners of the East; girls from Yakutia who drank kumis, roommates from Ukraine, doctors from Kazakhstan, classmates from Russia proper and photographers from Tatarstan. All extremely talented people who spoke multiple languages and were gifted artistically and technically, people who formed a large part of who I am today and upon whose photos with me I look and tears come from my eyes. So many content creators I follow are from the Russian Federation, amazingly talented people who other countries cannot match. I'm so sad it has come to this. It's such a worthless war - none of us will gain anything by it, not the European common person, not the Russian common person, and not even the European nor the Russian leadership. And Ukraine, caught in midst of things, again suffering? Holodomor, WW2, Chernobyl, the tough 1990s and now another war? This land is the worst afflicted in the last 120 years. I just want for us all to sit down by the campfire once more, read Gogol aloud and act in Chekhov's plays while we listen and sing the very same songs Viktor Tsoi sang. Группа крови - на рукаве, Мой порядковый номер - на рукаве.

@IqweoR

2 жыл бұрын

@mail box I do not agree. For those who kill innocent people there's a term - killers. Murderers, if you wish. Regular people don't kill another innocent people. Holy heck, regular people can only kill roaches in their houses, that's literally maximum level of physical harm. And those who did war crimes (also I think naming a war as "special operation" is a war crime too) are killers and murderers

@IqweoR

2 жыл бұрын

@mail box he didn't say - every man in Russia is innocent, but he did basically say that there are many people in Russia who are innocent and do not support war

@IqweoR

2 жыл бұрын

@mail box sadly it's the minority, it seems. Older people mostly support all actions of the current emperor, while younger - condemn

@martiddy

2 жыл бұрын

@mail box Everyone know that this war was created by the russian government, not by the russian people. Also, the propaganda is definitely a part of the problem, but the root is still the Russian government.

I'm 20, born and raised in Russia, and I can't even convey how much I relate to Roman's words. My country is dead, and everything is worse now.

@clemintineorgasmface4019

2 жыл бұрын

Rise up

@cparker7992

2 жыл бұрын

Fantastic and powerful use of that Bojack Horseman quote

@yerp3735

2 жыл бұрын

@@cparker7992 I was hoping someone would catch that reference

@darthimperius8057

2 жыл бұрын

Hey, your country might be bad, but at least brave orthodox Serb warriors support you.....

@nxs6musique140

2 жыл бұрын

You have no idea what you have. Come to Europe or the U.S. or Canada and see for yourself the horror that is modern day western values that have turned once thriving cities into open air zoos.

24 year old hungarian here. I cant believe how relatable you are to me. Hungary is right now became russia's"light" version sadly :/. I can feel your pain because i fear we will go down the same path as russia.

@thetruth6374

2 жыл бұрын

kzread.info/dash/bejne/aqqZsdydY5y8h6w.html Toys for Poroshenko / War Ukraine (English subtitles)

@rajlowkie6616

2 жыл бұрын

Leaders wanted, in the classified.

@richardbernat513

2 жыл бұрын

Growing up during the cold war, when the Hungarians rebelled against Russia (Soviet Union) in 1956, Hungarians were heroes to us. It's mind-boggling for me to think that now that Hungary is led by a pro-Russian president with little regard for freedom of speech.

@chasesstuff6010

2 жыл бұрын

I went to Budapest a couple of days ago and it was in NO STATE of war or anything, in fact i actually ENJOYED my excursion there.

@eriknagy159

2 жыл бұрын

@@chasesstuff6010 I didnt mean that we will go to war xd The corruption and the goverment build up is what is similar that of russia.

As an indian...i feel my nation is under this transitional phase you described...not there but on this path...sigh. More power to you and take care

@defaulter264

2 жыл бұрын

the closest India has ever been to being a dictatorship was under Congress and Indira Gandhi during the Emergency

@everettduncan7543

Жыл бұрын

@@defaulter264 certainly, but the BJP is trying to do it slow mo

@nadlax5920

Жыл бұрын

@@defaulter264 Its quite clear to me that India is now an electoral autocracy with fascist tendencies

@rishavkumar1250

9 ай бұрын

​@@nadlax5920 lol ok dude

As a young Russian, I can't say that my life has ever been boujee. I've always seen it as depressing before (was optimistic for the future though) but it's straight up dead now. Being surrounded by people who support this mess of a regime is scary. Like even my parents. I'm studying to be a foreign languages teacher (English, German, Swedish) because I wanted to help the new generations understand the world and be understood, foreign languages have changed my perception of the world and life itself forever and I want to share this. I wanted to help my country be this open, friendly and cool place. But idk if that'll happen anymore. At least in this lifetime. Peace to you all. With Russia from love I guess.

@fortuna7469

2 жыл бұрын

I feel your pain. However, please do not give up your dream, your hope, it is so beautiful. The older generation that is holding the power now will be gone in a decade or two and your generation will take have the power then. The change will take long time and this is a difficult phase now. We must persevere. Peace and love from Helsinki!

@kristel8991

2 жыл бұрын

It might seem like an individual can't make a difference, but I think you choosing to study languages to share knowledge is so admirable. Please don't loose hope, the best weapon against misinformation is education! I'm from Finland and I would have loved to visit Russia before this situation. It's kinda crazy to see how our neighboring country can be so different. I wish you all the best even though the situation may seem grim right now.

@mr.b7004

2 жыл бұрын

Stay safe, but keep the faith. I am from the West, so I do not truly know what you are going through, but I believe in people like you. I believe in you. If you need hope for your future please take some of mine. People like you are with you heart are indispensable.❤

@BroBurg445

2 жыл бұрын

Very feminine to want the priority for your nation to be a place that's cool and liked by everyone else. That's why women shouldn't lead.

@jmuench420

2 жыл бұрын

I'm never someone to suggest that a good person leave their country behind, I generally believe that struggling nations need their best and brightest to change things. That being said the future of Russia looks bleak on just about every level and at this point Putin leaving won't likely change that. I'd hate to say it but you should think about an exit strategy, if you can speak English and German that puts you at a pretty good advantage.

as a chinese kid born in 2000, I share so much of these complex feelings with you - had a brief taste of what the country could have become during my childhood (although the environment wasn't even that good with all the censorship), and then having to watch everything just went downhill day by day. so sad.

@pedrojuan8050

2 жыл бұрын

Are you actually from the PRC?

@deepfried2304

2 жыл бұрын

yeah bro i feel you. china's social credit system must suck

@Helena-mm2wc

2 жыл бұрын

Did you leave the country or decided to stay anyway? I'm especially interested in it cause the crazy quarantine measures going on in certain areas

@thedirty530

2 жыл бұрын

I couldn't agree more....I'm from the US and so much of this is how my own generation is. I'm thankful for the time we had to see it doesn't have to be like this. I hope we can one day go back to that but I know it's a long shot. Though it is nice to know that there are similar hopes among many of us!

@alext399

2 жыл бұрын

@@deepfried2304 yeah credit systems suck in general

My thoughts exactly. Thanks for sharing this. I'm also Russian, I'm also born and raised in Chelyabinsk, I'm also leaving to Georgia pretty soon, and I'm also dreamed about free Russia, opened to the World, with equality, acceptance and cultural connections, with some bright future, now we haven't any. In addition I'm a gay guy and a protestor, so it's even more dangerous for me to be here, still it's so hard to leave my friends and family. Awful feeling, my only hope is that I can be useful there in Georgia, I hope I could find some volunteer work to help Ukraine and Ukrainians.

@polishherowitoldpilecki5521

2 жыл бұрын

How’s it like living as a gay Russian? There was news of Russian hooligans luring Gays and humiliating them on video. Concentration camps on Chechnya as well. How does day to day life, live?

@FayFromGallifrey

2 жыл бұрын

@@polishherowitoldpilecki5521 It really depends on lots of factors. Mainly your location and appearance. Chechnya is hell, with few other Islam South regions, but Moscow, St.Petersburg, some Ural cities and Novosibirsk are better. Young people mostly tolerant, older generations mostly homophobic, also police and army culture extremely homophobic. There are many misunderstandings. Western homophobia comes from religion, Russians basically lived under 70 years of atheism, so here homophobia comes from prison culture and it's a bit different. For example being top is not so bad as being bottom, hate mostly comes from perception of being gay is like being a woman, not from some concepts of sin. So if you are feminine, you'll at the same time face much more hate, but also more attention from "straight guys" who are want something. And if you're like me - cis masculine bearded guy, people usually don't believe you're gay, they assume any signs as jokes, but if you do something "not manly" the s**t will got real. I told some of my co-workers many times that I like guys, they just laughth, but when I dyed my beard in blue and came to corporate party holding hands with my bf, some of them called it f**et s**t... Fun part, not my relationships, but my dyed beard. Still I'm masculine, big and tall, and I live in big city, most hate I face is verbal. Lots of guys and girls and fluid people face much more hate. It's not mean that I feel free and safe, I'm out only for my friends and co-workers, I can't hold hands with my bf in public places, I live in apartment building where some neighbors asking why are two guys live together, when I went to protest against the war I was afraid more than hetero allies, because if police will find out that I'm gay, violence towards me will increase drastically. There was cases of raping and murder of LGBT+ people in police. And there are many other problems, gangs, who using date apps to blackmail or bite people, hateful movements, discrimination laws. It's not like Iran or Saudi Arabia, no death sentences or something like that yet, but it's much worse than any EU country, even if it's homophobic in a way. The bright part was that things getting better, Western and Japanese cultures made younger generations more accepting, some organizations helping LGBT+ people, in 10 to 15 years we could become free European country with equality, but putin start this horrible war, so now young generations have no future. I think this is part of the reason why he did it - because he lost young people to modern culture, and he afraid that future generations not interested in him and his values from 1950s. Anyway, thanks for asking, I need to talk about it with someone. We, gays afraid even more than straight people who stands against the war here, we forced back in closet, we afraid that anyone now can tell on us to the police and they can ruin our lives, because if you're different means you're enemy now. From the beginning of the war putin few times mentioned "gender equalites" and other LGBT+ thing as Western flaws in aggressive way, in the way that "we" here can't accept such things, so we're are special target now.

@ivanfedotov9971

2 жыл бұрын

Бро я не буду пытаться тебя переубедить от переезда, но хочу рассказать, что я жил на западе в нескольких странах и там далеко не во всех городах лояльно относятся к геям. Скорее всего только в крупных, да и то чаще всего в центральных районах. В США например убивают трансгендеров, почитай об этом в интернете. ЛГБТ представителей мало где принимают, многие люди не испытывают положительных эмоций когда слышат, что ты гей.

@polishherowitoldpilecki5521

2 жыл бұрын

@@FayFromGallifrey Stay safe and be happy, best regards from Poland🇵🇱 Now that you made the decision to leave, more tranquil life could be ahead. Spain and Canada are the most lgbtq tolerant countries. 80% of Spaniards supports lgbtq people, so that’s an attractive option. You could probably ask for asylum. Russian airplanes are banned from EU airspace, not Russians.

@FayFromGallifrey

2 жыл бұрын

@@polishherowitoldpilecki5521 Thank you! I dream to visit Poland one day, love the language, studied it a bit, not enough to have courage to speak, but quite enough to watch Netflix Polish series without translation :) As for leaving, I have no other option, my company relocates to Georgia, and I can't find new job here, also I can't properly help Ukraine from here, If police finds out that I've sent some crypto to Ukrainan funds, I'll be sentenced for 20 years. Georgia also not that much LGBT+ frinedly, but they have great police, nice food and freedom to speak what I think. As for asylum - it's hard, I'll can't back to my family if they need me, plus I want to work and be useful, not to take place of someone's who's life is in greater danger, until I'm ok. My one and only concern is that I can't get Shengen visa in Georgia, it's especially hard now anyway, but my dream is to visit different EU countries as tourist, especially Poland, Slovenia, UK and Austria, and one day, when this war ends, I hope to get to Ukraine to help rebuild, even if I would cry every single day there from understanding what was done.

In order, this was probably thought n. 4 that I had the moment the war started: even if _somehow_ Putin were magically able to _somehow_ conquer and effectively annex the entirety of Ukraine to the Russian territory, Russia lost this war the moment it began regardless. Not only did this war kick Russia back to the USSR time within its borders, but also without. After the end of the cold war, it was taking _years_ for Russia to make itself a new name in the world (particularly in Europe and the US), but after 30 years, I honestly had the feeling that we were all on the good way there. I was discussing the thing with a Finnish friend, who told me that people who had seen the cold war were not exactly the most trustworthy towards Russia, but most of them were slowly but surely on their way to change their views, whereas basically the entirety of newer generations didn't have a single qualm against Russia. Now, older generations were thrown back to their original views and newer generations don't trust anymore, and this is what's going on in so many other countries as well. It will take *decades* for the Russian reputation to build back to the level it had in January. And who's gonna pay for this? The young. The people who _could_ have helped Russia to further develop into the intertwined reality of today's world, and instead will have to deal with a broken reputation that will take the better part of half a century to cleanse. And this was one of the first things that hit me of this whole thing, because I'll see the consequences of it probably for my whole life, and this is just not fair to Russians.

@ClarkinFlame49810

Жыл бұрын

Ironically, Yeltsin's rule was the worst

@tetraxis3011

Жыл бұрын

This is a territorial war, if Russia annexes Ukraine, that is an automatic win, even if they suffer more losses. Sadly.

I am 21, and a few days ago I caught myself thinking that I was deprived of my motherland. The feeling that Russia has been captured. In fact, it is. I see that my generation is mostly against this war, but most of them are just trying to live as if nothing happened. It is like living under occupation.

@Bullminator

2 жыл бұрын

Did you get the fuck out of country yet? If you didnt, expect another tianaman square, but this time in russa.

@miroz5824

2 жыл бұрын

...and from what history teaches us, it will only get worse. Unless people realize it is their country, their lives ad their fate. Until than, the conditions will mostly only be deteriorating

@FaronPL

2 жыл бұрын

Silence means consent.

@Forrusformazia

2 жыл бұрын

@@FaronPL silence means fear

@feverprole

2 жыл бұрын

It feels just like that. It's ridiculous how they say on TV that Russia is "saving" Ukraine, while it's us regular Russians that feel occupied by the regime... I swear it's so scary sometimes. Thank God we have Internet nowadays and we can actually compare the points of view, see where the actual freedom is.

Roman, The Russia you’re talking about that once was finished for me in 2008. I’m half Georgian and the invasion of Georgia was a pivotal point for my family. We realized and had the foresight that it will only get worse. We left. Moved around. Then in 2018 I went to live with my dad in ukraine - with my dad who worked in Russia for 30 years in echo of Moscow and worked hard and honest and paid his taxes. Now the invasion happened. My dad now is declared a foreign agent in Russia, lost his home, pension, everything. He is 70, he should be enjoying his life and instead sits in western ukraine thinking about how all he worked for went down the drain. Then I sit here bitter and sad. When I worked with an organization that tried to explain to western leaders the direction Russia was heading in, we were ignored and treated like paranoid loonies. I But now, second time in my 22 year old life, the same fucking president destroys and crushes completely everything. Kills my friends, neighbors, and so on. Bucha is 10 minutes away from what was my home - I can’t explain what the fuck kind of emotions it feels to see your neighbors killed like this. It’s so violating that my home was broken into and shit stolen. My uncle and older brother can’t even leave Russia - tied due to work and family members, and both ethnic minorities and against the war, meaning they’re even a bigger target. What’s worse is their fucking friends and other family members all support the war. Unfortunately this is just where Putin was heading and whether due to our ignorance or something else we didn’t stop him. We all thought that “he will go away” or “he is just bluffing” and now all of us collectively eat shit. Now that you’re in Georgia I hope you enjoy your time. My mother’s land is welcoming but you WILL get fat from the food. I recommend you visit Keto and Kote (restaurant) on Zandukeli street. Go there when the sun sets. You’ll like it.

@D4v3Serious

2 жыл бұрын

YOU attacked ossetia you got what you deserve!

@fallsmaps651

2 жыл бұрын

im really sorry. I hope everything will get better soon...

@ekesa07632

2 жыл бұрын

@@fallsmaps651 I have faith it will! As shit as stuff is - negativity can’t consume us. We have better things to do.

@justafloridamanfromthe75thRR

2 жыл бұрын

Georgia kinda had it coming tho to be honest

@owerty100

2 жыл бұрын

Hard to imagine what your family has gone through. Stay strong, it will get better!

I was born the same year as you and that's crazy how almost identical our experiences are. I wish we could just build a country of young people, the country that we believed in and that was taken from us And yet we are people born in the years of demographic crisis. There are more Russians in their 60s living now than there were us ever born. A red-book generation with forbidden values and views. Heartbreaking. Thank you for speaking out and giving this feeling of community, it was really important to feel understood

@SpukiTheLoveKitten75

Жыл бұрын

Always remember that the young will be around longer, and the older ones won't be long for this world. They'll slowly die out. I must emphasize that this is not about hating old people and not all old people are retrograde. I'm just sharing a hopeful message with regard to demographics.

Your honesty is heartfelt❤️ thank you for sharing your thoughts. Best wishes moving forward

As a Ukrainian I never understood what people who sounded like they were mad at Roman for being Russian wanted him to do about the whole situation, but this is a reflection video I was hoping Roman would make. Excellent job !

@typiclyjohny5114

2 жыл бұрын

I don't think they hate him but they reflect Russias politics onto him

@martinn.6082

2 жыл бұрын

This is the first video ever where he criticizes Putin and the war. Before, he never did.

@jasonb6315

2 жыл бұрын

@@martinn.6082 Would love to see what you would have done in his situation.

@Insert-Retarded-Reply-Here

2 жыл бұрын

@@martinn.6082 and that is a bad thing. The pressure from the ignorant pigs like you who think they have the moral high ground are influencing what Roman has to say to appease these fools which ultimately is putting him in danger. Truly sad and I hope your kind of lacking empathy ceases to exist

@dvell

2 жыл бұрын

@@martinn.6082 Do you realize that he had to move out of the country to sound it out without the consequences which were explained a few videos earlier.

Oh my.... I grew up in Moscow in the Soviet Union era. I came to the US in the mid 90’s as an exchange student and my gut feeling back then told me to hang on and stay no matter what. Thousand visas, college loans and 20+ year road to a green card and then citizenship later... I sit here and listen to Roman’s perspective as if it was my own but almost 20 years prior to his birth year.

@ioiaxopanel3652

2 жыл бұрын

Salute✌🏽you’re a hustler

@mgm579

2 жыл бұрын

@@ioiaxopanel3652 had no choice but become one, thanks 👍

@makeyyyy7890

2 жыл бұрын

I support Putin

@taterkaze9428

2 жыл бұрын

You made the right call.

@juniorjames7076

2 жыл бұрын

I was finishing law school during 2006/2008 and I remember meeting international students from Russia and Ukraine during this time, extremely smart and educated. Law school was kicking my ass, but this girl from Moscow told me what a piece of cake studying American law was, saying it was a thousand times harder in Russia, especially for ORAL EXAMS!! And even if you "passed", if you didn't bribe your teacher with an adequate amount of money, you still failed. So yeah, law school was a breeze for her, but she DIDN'T WANT TO GO BACK RUSSIA. Her plan was to get a PHd in something hard, and defect. I met students from Iran who had the same plan.

Thank you for posting this.

Just THANK YOU for communicating your personal history brother

I was born and raised in Turkey. I feel EXACTLY the same. word to word. year to year. it crushes me inside how our identities have been stoled by the dictators. I wish I couldn't relate to you...

@DiveTheseClips

2 жыл бұрын

I suspect Turkey is not that far gone yet. I ran from Russia to Istanbul and when I landed I felt like a heavy weight has been lifted from my shoulders. It felt great to be able to use internet without VPN etc. I don't know inner working of the country though so I'm not making any conclusions, just sharing my observations.

@TubaGlider2

2 жыл бұрын

I’m glad I got to visit your country in 2014 before this latest madness started. It’s painful to see the road Turkey is on but I’m afraid the US isn’t far behind in terms of super religious people taking over the government. I felt very welcome as an American and even though I don’t speak the language at all, I never felt like a stranger.

@seeyouchump

2 жыл бұрын

Turkey was never really a free, democratic country. I don't support Erdogan, but saying that before him things used to be better from freedom, democracy and economy point of view is just extremely ignorant.

@TubaGlider2

2 жыл бұрын

@@seeyouchump Definitely not saying it is or ever was really, but it seemed to be democratizing then, albeit VERY slowly. I had met several students from places that were tighter controlled, like Indonesia and Iran that told me how much freer they felt in Turkey, even some who were LGBT relieved to be in a place that even though it isn’t accepting, didn’t feel in danger. Obviously that safety is more questionable outside big cities and further east in Anatolia. I would be hesitant to go back now, though especially given the strict security I imagine there is in Istanbul now.

@alperenkul2085

2 жыл бұрын

​@@DiveTheseClips Welcome to Istanbul!! I'm glad things have been working out for you here. I think in general you feel the influence of the government as much as you are a threat to their continuity. For example I study in one of the oldest uni's in Istanbul and last year they appointed someone as the head of the uni. and a strong resistance sparked in all universities in the country. Since then, hundrends of my friends have been arrested, our academicians are getting fired etc. my dorm room is surrounded by heavy armed police right now and we are regulary beaten up etc. Last year I didn't felt this much of a pressure because I wasnt a significance "threat" to the regime. Russian minority is not a concern for them rn but I am really concerned about your safety in the future. I'm not even mentioning about the hyperinflation that threatens our basic needs right now. Most of us now cutting meals to survive and it seems that it will be getting worse. I mean welcome with my all heart but I wish we could have provide you guys better standards and hopefully you can find a more reliable place in the future.

As a German citizen who's parents came from Chelaybinsk in '98. Seeing them support Putin and talk badly about the entire population of Ukraine honestly makes me sick to my stomach, I strongly feel with you Roman. Best of luck Brother.

@kedafu

2 жыл бұрын

me too. I support Roman and will help him and people like him any way possible. All are welcome and safe at Fort Calgary. This is my part for Truth and Reconciliation!

@svarog8253

2 жыл бұрын

entire? im eastern ukranian and i support russia for example,this war isnt black and white you know. its as if you picture the whole ukraine united or something which is false.

@svarog8253

2 жыл бұрын

do you freaking aware how the current ukranian goverment treated ukranians who pro russian civilians in the last years? for you " whole ukraine" is west to the dniper. tired of this western propoganda bs tbh. russian too but the loudest is the western, do you aware that they arming neo nazi militants? ffs....

@marierejoiceinjesus3846

2 жыл бұрын

All I know as an American, somehow people here forget about all the war crimes we have committed. They only do or feel what the TV tells them. We have our own brainwash here. I do not support Russia, but Americans should stop being hypocrites.

@skaterchara4276

2 жыл бұрын

@@svarog8253 wait are you saying that you support Russia for invading a country for no reason

So incredibly insightful and objective. You are truly a light of hope in a really fucked up situation. Thank you Roman😊

It's incredible how blunt and honest this video is. I really appreciate the fact you're making this stuff.

I care. Thanks for sharing. I left the Soviet Union as a kid, my family came to America as refugees. And I can tell the indoctrination our parents had is real. And it’s so sad to see it go back to that. Because you’re right. A ton of potential!

@John77Doe

2 жыл бұрын

Russian Jews?? 😃😃😃😃

@michaelhaney4314

2 жыл бұрын

yes John Doe there are many Russian Jews many where killed in W.w.2 .. remembering the past is how it can not be repeated!!

@mariomm9080

2 жыл бұрын

The west started everything by organising coup d'etat in Ukraine

@eldeluxo

2 жыл бұрын

It seems as if Roman has already experienced America, his heightened awareness unfortunately means that like you, he'll need to move on.

@user-aRb00d3r

2 жыл бұрын

actually the things happening now are rooted in that indoctrination, a lot of now old people were ready to be brainwashed again

When I was a kid, my Father would yell how shitty our prime minister was all the time. I would ask him :" If our leadership is so bad why did you move out of russia?" My Dad said: "because its so good that we can shit on our leadership and not sit in a cell or lay in a grave, be greatful for democracy."

@gotworc

2 жыл бұрын

Now there is no democracy in Russia lol

@Marymationnn

2 жыл бұрын

my respect to your father

@thetruth6374

2 жыл бұрын

kzread.info/dash/bejne/aqqZsdydY5y8h6w.html Toys for Poroshenko / Ukraine (English subtitles)

Thank you, man. Highlighting and open speaking is inavalueable. Спасибо тебе.

I am 71 years old and I remember how excited I was in the early 90s about Russia joining the free world. I wanted to go to Russia and see the changes. Over the years, I felt that nothing really changed except the Soviet ideology. The Soviet authoritarianism had just morphed into extreme capitalism but not true democracy and friendship with western countries. But that dream is now 100% dead. I am sorry for you and others like you whose hopes and dreams have been dashed. I wish you well.

As a person from Hong Kong, I can relate to all the things you said, that pain of watching our homeland sinking beneath our feet, and being utterly powerless to do anything. Roman, thanks for speaking out, that was a powerful video.

@gamingenius

2 жыл бұрын

As a person from the United States, I can relate to all the things you said, that pain of watching our homeland sinking beneath our feet, and being utterly powerless to do anything. Roman, thanks for speaking out, that was a powerful video.

@zeitgeistx5239

2 жыл бұрын

Lol @ your hope and optimism in HK. No one was naive enough to believe that HK would continue to get special treatment and mainlanders would be 2nd class citizens.

@zeitgeistx5239

2 жыл бұрын

@@gamingenius I dunno bro, I like being able to financially invest in my own government mass surveillance via Palantir.

@rememberushongkong

2 жыл бұрын

05海外港人 有同感

@Jongosification

2 жыл бұрын

As a person from Sweden, I can relate to all the things you said, that pain of watching our homeland just sink between our feet, and being utterly powerless to do anything. Thanks for speaking out Roman, that was powerful stuff.

Roman, I'm a bit older than you and visited Russia in the year 2000 when Putin was in power. I was 17 and studying Russian history as part of my A-levels. Russia was in a bad way, pensions were not being paid and old people were begging in the streets. We had a really lovely tour guide called Galina who was probably in her 50s, but obviously had a hard life and looked older. All the students and teachers put $10 each in an envelope and bought her a bunch of flowers. I'm guessing she got something like $250 which in the year 2000 was a lot of money (and still is) she broke the f**k down and was crying so much with gratitude. I'll never forget it. I understand why Russian people think Putin has done an okay job because he bought stability. He hadn't, oil prices bought stability. Russia should be in a way better position than it is if it were not for massive corruption and Putin doing deals with his mates to build stadiums in Sochi for the Olympics for example. Before Putin was president he was considering driving a taxi and now he is one of the richest men in the world on a salary of $150k a year!! Do the math!!! How has he achieved this without stealing billions from the Russian people. It's so obvious, I just don't understand how the Russians don't see it. Look at the drip he was wearing in his stadium talk!! That coat was worth more than the average Russian earns in a year. Peace

@dcv7465

2 жыл бұрын

Great comment

@smichastine

2 жыл бұрын

He let his mates build stadiums to host the olympics, why does that come at a detriment to the russian people? Didn’t he get a lot of his wealth from doing deals with oligarchs (50% of wealth given to him or prosecution from the courts for crossing Russia).

@xsc1000

2 жыл бұрын

He was taxi driver - for mafia... So now he is capo di tutti capi...

@izabelasiczek3547

2 жыл бұрын

Spot on comment

@lisellesloan3191

2 жыл бұрын

Putin is estimated to be worth $200 billion, by Forbes magazine, making him one of the richest men in the world! And it was all dirty money, as Putin and the oligarchs stole millions from his people and had the journalists and dissidents who exposed him literally killed! This has been going on since 1990 or so, when Putin became Prime Minister. Look up the Moscow Apartment Bombings--Putin allowed hundreds of people to be killed in the bombing of three or four apartments in Moscow, as a distraction against the corruption of the oligarchs. He wrongfully and deliberately blamed Chechnyan terrorists, and then had thousands of innocent Chechnyans killed when he invaded their country! But the distraction worked, and he had any investigative journalists that tried to expose him "dealt with"! And from then on, he exerted heavy control over the media.

Stumbled on your channel by chance, watched a fair few videos. Thank you for what you do. I have a friend from Russia who fled in 2019 and it's very validating for other Russians living abroad to see that their experience is not that unique. Speaking as a westerner, I also find your perspective super insightful, and it helps understand the mindset of Russian people, where it comes from and that nuance exists. Thanks man. Hope you'll continue to be safe.

@friendlyfire7861

Жыл бұрын

Not to be negative, but dont forget you did not "stumble on this by chance." KZread put in in your feed out of the millions of videos out there, and there was a reason.

Honest content deliver with a balanced view and respectful to the situation in Ukraine.

It's such a sad acknowledgement not only for Russia but for all Eastern European countries that went through wars, famine and serfdom that left scars and pain to this day. Love from Romania, keep strong

@andriyshepard3095

2 жыл бұрын

@ניקאָלאַי ברומאָווסקי what ?

@lukajalo8635

2 жыл бұрын

oh man i dropped my walle- where did it go, oh my god a romanian person

@slavicemperor8279

2 жыл бұрын

Russian political system has always been terribly authoritarian and regressive. They were ones of last European powers to abolish the serfdom, and when the time of modernization came under Tsar Alexander II he was assassinated and replaced with his son, who was a brutal and oppressive autocrat. Then after all those tsars when there was place for Russia to modernize again they chose a different path of socialism, which along with many things it solved still didn't bring Russia any democracy and kept extreme authoritarianism and censorship. And finally, when the socialism collapsed the liberalization of Russia ended in a disaster with private sector being seized by a few wealthy individuals, causing an everlasting poverty and misery for the majority of people. Some people just aren't capable of democracy yet, it's the sad truth.

@juhannusruusu

2 жыл бұрын

toate tarile din Europa de Est au suferit din cauza Rusiei :) si-o merita din plin, sper ca sanctiunile sa o distruga atat de tare pana o sa ajunga sa se manance intre ei.

@camilrath5990

2 жыл бұрын

@@juhannusruusu Oameni atat din Rusia cat si din Romania nu au alegeri bune si drepte cu candidati competenti, Rusia poarta blestemul dictatorului cum noi purtam blestemul politicienilor incompetenti si opulenti. Pot toti, si ai lor si ai nostri sa se ia de manute si sa moara in foc.

Being a 90s kid in Lithuania (ex-USSR), we had the exact same vibes in the years between 2004 and 2010 - it seemed that Russia is going to be an awesome country we would be partnering with. Its really sad that went the drain... A really relatable feeling, Roman. Good video.

@mariusmarka5370

2 жыл бұрын

But Vytautas Landsbergis was right all along :D Rusai puola.

@simplyaugis9864

2 жыл бұрын

Honestly, I would’ve loved to see Russia become actually democratic and becoming a first world country, however seems like this ain’t gonna be a thing any time soon. I am also Lithuanian if you’re curious.

@rytisliaucys3444

2 жыл бұрын

Indeed. Russia was actually crazy liberal back then. A time when Tatu, openly lesbian group, was crazy popular in Russia, did tours and nobody batted an eye. A time when we were actually looking forward to start a partnership with Russia. What the fuck did you do, Putin.

@NOTIMEFORWINE

2 жыл бұрын

Oh yeah, it was especially cool when "awesome liberal potential partner russia" attacked georgia in 2008!

@kr0pp

2 жыл бұрын

as an Estonian, it was more like 90s up to 2007. They instigated a riot in our capital and next year invaded Georgia. After that we were like "yeah, fuck Putin and fuck Russia", turned towards west even more and never looked back. We were the first ones to realize how fucked that country is, even though the world should have seen that coming after what they did in Grozny...

Russian here, I relate to many of the things you've said. Waiting for acceptances from Canadian unis currently, let's hope I get that student visa and leave in 3-4 months. All we can really do at this point, is leave.

@polishherowitoldpilecki5521

2 жыл бұрын

Might not happen. Russia might close the border then. Their losing a lot of young talent.

@cardinal9009

2 жыл бұрын

@@polishherowitoldpilecki5521 I've gotten my acceptance letter and applying for a student permit already so I'll be fine lul.

@UkrRusSlavic

2 жыл бұрын

@@cardinal9009 Удачи вам! I'm an american born Ukrainian with many Russian friends here in NY and I think it's good many russians and ukrainians are coming to the west to experience a more free world and perspectives. Russia will become a better place when our generation become leaders in the world.

@josephnguyen9666

2 жыл бұрын

I hope you do. Our neighbor to the North can use the talent. If you got good grades, come down South. We need bright young people.

@DevolaPopola

2 жыл бұрын

Canadian here. Hopefully you get accepted! We largely understand that the Russian people have nothing to do with the war. We are a welcoming country I would say, mostly! And I believe you would be feeling quite at home with our miserable weather as well 😆

All the best to your lovely family Roman, may they have peaceful grace and freedom/liberty as soon as possible.

I am an old American who has lived through these dramatic changes, albeit from afar. I have been interested in all things Russian for 40 years. I saw the positive changes and felt comfortable traveling to Russia in 2018. I have traveled a lot and Russia was my favorite trip by far. It was better in every way than I expected! Now this. I am crushed. Of course I am just an outsider lookin in but my heart bleeds for people like you and the other Russians and Ukrainians who are directly affected for one man's ego. So sad.

@FreedomAndPeaceOnly

2 жыл бұрын

You mean for _"many peoples ego"_ who sit in Brussel, call themself the EU, use the NATO to further use the Azov Nazîs and those Criminals murdered over 20.000 people since 2014 and nobody cares cause the EU & Nato want Russia to become another vassal or die... and people are too stooooopid to understand. Yeah what a world to live in.

@drzelensky4547

2 жыл бұрын

so bombing iraq, serbia, afghanistan, dead palestinian children is not sad at all, american?

@tysonreuter5788

2 жыл бұрын

One man’s ego? This conflict has been engineered for years against Russia when Putin tried to set up independent financial systems in the country. Simple as that, no other reason. You know how I know that? You and everyone else didn’t give 2 shits about the war in Georgia.

@milesdunstan-daams4855

2 жыл бұрын

yeah should of doen what gorbachove said

@borghorsa1902

2 жыл бұрын

Recent Russian polls have shown that 90 percent of Russians approve of a fist nuclear strike on USA and Europe for no other reason than making them feel bad. I'm serious, Russia today is a totally, I mean TOTALLY fascist state, with zero independent media, total police/KGB control over everything. In 2022 There are more political prisoners in Russia than in 1970 USSR years! Incredible

I am from Siberia (Russia) and I agree with Roman. I was born in the USSR in 1990 but grew up in modern Russia. My Russia, my country died when Putin came to his third term. In Russia, you cannot be president more than 2 times according to the constitution.

@glendanielson9006

2 жыл бұрын

So how come he got in for a third term???

@stuart4341

2 жыл бұрын

@@glendanielson9006 if I remember correctly, when Medvedev was president they changed the constitution to remove term limits so Putin becane president again

@Zluka366

2 жыл бұрын

@@glendanielson9006 he and other people in the State Duma (government): okay, you can’t be president for more than two terms in a row, but with a break, you can do some shit like that

@glendanielson9006

2 жыл бұрын

@@stuart4341 What a drag! That is unfortunate. The world could sure do without Putin's kind of ruthlessness.

@glendanielson9006

2 жыл бұрын

@@Zluka366 What a drag! I sure wish for different leadership as I am sure so many now do!

You have great energy and awesome humor, It kept my interest,,, Thank you from San Francisco calif.

Great video bro, much love from Sweden 🇸🇪 Very good to hear a common person from russias perspectiv! Hope to see more from you like this. Prayers for peace for both Ukraine and the future of Russia.

@thetruth6374

2 жыл бұрын

kzread.info/dash/bejne/aqqZsdydY5y8h6w.html Toys for Poroshenko / War Ukraine (English subtitles)

Thank you, Roman! Being a 25 years old Russian I can relate to each and every word you say. Thank you for being a voice of our generation (that is actually pretty small in number but we still do exist)

@benl9047

2 жыл бұрын

Yeah, the number of Russians in their 20's now is about half of the number in their 30's, it's crazy! Apparently with the chaos of the USSR collapsing many people didn't want to have babies in the 90's.

@TheCBC1984

2 жыл бұрын

i feel the exact same way about occupied Turtle Island north (canaduh).

@Idk-lk7cc

2 жыл бұрын

You guys are very important right now. Try to spread the truth to the people in ways you dont get yourself in to much trouble! Be safe

@luxborealis

2 жыл бұрын

@@TheCBC1984 Forget Turtle Island, Hans Island is the true geopolitical conflict of our day!

@TheCBC1984

2 жыл бұрын

@@luxborealis way to ignore genocide.

As a Russian who was born in the 1990 I can say that I feel exactly the same. I never payed a lot of attention to politics until I graduated from the university in 2012, but I remember a lot of "kitchen talks" from my parents from Listev's death in 1995 (though I was small at that time I felt by people's reaction that something terrible happened) to present day and each time it was one terrible thing after another. Though, only when I became older I understood all the horror of the situation and made the decision to leave the country, I never assumed that something like full scale war can happen (I had thoughts about the inevitable fall of the economy, or the border closure, but not something like what happened). And several months ago I woke up in the morning and my country of birth was no more. Thank you for speaking up your mind, Roman! It means a lot for me that there are people who think the same about the hole situation! I do hope for this war to end as quickly as possible and for you I wish to stay safe!

@Chiboza

2 жыл бұрын

Say sorry for Bucha

@lisavauhti7675

2 жыл бұрын

@@Chiboza buchery for bucha, putin wants to have put in, but i'm sorry you draw weird conclusions

@ggerdagg

2 жыл бұрын

Я такая же как ты но до сих пор в России:( жаль что не открыла глаза раньше… а куда ты уехал?

@xenoneuronics6765

2 жыл бұрын

I'm a Canadian just a few years older than you. This is like the most significant thing since the fall of the USSR, this is huge. We're flying into another coldwar faster than the hypersonic missiles! Our generation is going to be a true anomaly, with a perspective not shared by the old or the young. We lived in a golden age and didn't really know it

@John-gs7xp

2 жыл бұрын

@@Chiboza the thing is. In war there are no rules. I already know 2015 that war will Happen soon. It was from my point of view very logic,because of strategic reasons. Ukraine has a lot of oil under the bottom of black sea and russia wants that europe is more dependent on russian gas. In crimea thanks to putin is a lot of emergency because of the drinking water.

From southern California my heart truly goes out to you, Roman, and I can feel the pain in you for something that has been lost in your country. I hope that somehow, and at some time, the situation can be turned around again. We're living in tragic and troubling times, no matter where we live, because our hearts and souls are interconnected, even though our minds often forget this. Please continue to be someone who speaks his own truth without any filters, and know that many of us, even in the U.S., are listening. If any of us are subjugated we all feel the loss and the total wrongness of such a fate. Thank you for your courage and honesty.

@g.christelbecker6349

2 жыл бұрын

Ingrid Stockton Hi, what is happening in the States right now is deeply disturbing. There is a trend of lies and misinformation from the Government, the media and curtailment of free speech. The US I knew and loved years ago has dissappeared and freedoms are slipping away rapidly.

I feel for you my brother, an eye opener, things can change quickly, we just don’t realize.

As someone from Georgia, you and few other Russians prove that there’s still hope that something might change in Russia and there are Russian people who I can be friends with. I can’t stand brainwashed Putin supporter Z crowd, but lately I see many Russians like you and it gives me hope that one day we can live in peace. Huge respect for you and hopefully one day we can get drunk af together somewhere in Tbilisi if you stay here :D

@crunchymix

2 жыл бұрын

I hate when they use little kid hold Z sign to support their narrative. Those kid don’t even know what exactly happen on that special operation.

@credentials4664

2 жыл бұрын

Seeing Russians like him genuinely gives me some spark of hope for Russia. There's still hope for Russia. Younger generations will one day replace the older generations. There is still some hope left.

@mnivvy

2 жыл бұрын

There are a lot of people that don't support all of this z nazi bullshit, trust me as a Russian.There's just a very loud part of the people who do support it that overshadows us.

@getLocation

2 жыл бұрын

@@mnivvy yeah, sadly, most annoying people are usually loudest ones. And I wasn’t even talking about Russians only, even we, Georgians, have people who are brainwashed by Putin’s propaganda and support him and his actions for some freaking reason.

@ssc00p

2 жыл бұрын

@@crunchymix Imagine if those children grow up in an environment where the West is viewed as a source of evil to be despised... what will happen when they are, say, 20 years old... They'd make Goebbels proud...

Man, here in Lithuania we would love to have a neighbouring country that's open, democratic and friendly. Export would be so much easier, no political tensions, more beautiful places to travel to and explore! It really is a tragedy.

@pavook

2 жыл бұрын

You still have some, with Latvia and Poland. Sadly I cannot recommend Belarus for obvious reasons. 2 out of 4 is not a great ratio.

@paulinar7195

2 жыл бұрын

@@pavook Absolutely! Just having some utopian thoughts here, that the big one (and Belarus) could be just as good.

@andersjjensen

2 жыл бұрын

Don't forget your water borders! Finland, Sweden, Noway, Denmark, Poland and Germany are right in your back yard too :P I had the good fortune to train "exchange" soldiers from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in the mid to late 90s here in Denmark. You guys are level headed practical people with balls of steel. I wouldn't hesitate a second to call you brothers in arms.

@zombie2356

2 жыл бұрын

Imagine lithuanian, polish, belarusian, ukrainian federation, God i wish this would happen ;v

@pavook

2 жыл бұрын

@@zombie2356 You mean like Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, from 1569 to 1795? It's gone and belong to history. It woudn't last anyway and break up like Yugoslavia. It's not a realistic dream.

100% right about all. congrats u r cool! al the best man ;)

You really gave me a view on this hot mess that I never really had, keep it up my friend.

Настолько точное описание моих мыслей и восприятия происходящего, что даже становится жутко. Спасибо тебе большое за то, что озвучиваешь эти вещи. И спасибо за то, что даешь веру в то, что мы все не одни в этом тяжелом моральном состоянии

@Ramian1

2 жыл бұрын

Google Translate: Such an accurate description of my thoughts and perception of what is happening that it even becomes creepy. Thank you very much for voicing these things. And thank you for giving faith that we are not all alone in this difficult morale.

@thedislikebutton7754

2 жыл бұрын

@@Ramian1 it literally says translate to English below his comment 🤦‍♂️

@Lackari

2 жыл бұрын

@@thedislikebutton7754 Not for me

@user-dr5kq2yy4g

2 жыл бұрын

Да, главное помнить, что вокруг все еще много понимающих людей, и не терять собственную человечность и культуру...

@anufrievnkt98

2 жыл бұрын

@@user-dr5kq2yy4g всем нам надо держаться вместе, к сожалению, очень многие люди в связи с войной предстали в совсем неприятном свете.. как будто мир встал с ног на голову

As long as Russia has people like you, there is still hope.

@mushokueien8148

2 жыл бұрын

Russia doesnt has him because he, you know, not living in Russia any more

@Gus-op5ff

2 жыл бұрын

Lol good luck with that

@khoirulanam9141

2 жыл бұрын

Unfortunately the Russians are not bulletproof

@V0ID_beats

2 жыл бұрын

The last normal people are now fleeing Russia so no there is no hope

@alexm566

2 жыл бұрын

he literally left Russia

Thanks for this video. I’ve always wanted to know more about what Russia is actually like. I live in the UK and to be honest, there is very little I can reference about the people and culture. You did a great job at sharing you’re experience and perspective. We all want to be proud of the nation we call home and be excited about the future. I look forward to watching more of your videos. I hope things begin to change for the better.

Well done Roman, thanks for sharing.

My mother grew up in Finland and she worked as a tour guide on the trans-Siberian railway during her time off from university. While I was growing up she often told me how beautiful Russia was and what interesting people she had met on her travels. She would always sneer at older Finnish people who were generally very distrustful and disparaging against Russia. But in the last 8-10 years she’s mostly stopped doing that. I hope that one day Russians can be free and hopeful for the future again, and that one day the Russia you loved can become a reality.

@miroslavhoudek7085

2 жыл бұрын

Yeah, these last years changed a lot of perceptions. When I was a kid, everyone hated russians for occupying us. But after 1990 I thought that we should all give them a break, clean slate, especially my parents. Big mistake in retrospect and whatever chance russians had with my generation and my kids, that's hard gone.

@skiguru99

2 жыл бұрын

Those older people know what Russia did to Finland in the past. Any country with a border with Russia should not trust them

@joojoojeejee6058

2 жыл бұрын

@@skiguru99 Interestingly, the popularity of Finland's NATO membership is highest in the older age groups. (It is pretty high in all age groups, but highest in the older age groups). Finns have always been pretty reserved regarding Russians and suspicious of them, but I wouldn't call it "russophobia" as such. Finland is an individualistic society and we treat people as individuals.

@ocyranek

2 жыл бұрын

@@joojoojeejee6058 , it’s not Russophobia if it’s true. Phobia-an extreme or irrational fear of or aversion to something. It’s ok to fear Russians, they’re not humans ( I am not talking about people like Roman) just those who support Putin and his regime. You can’t support Putin and not be responsible for what his barbarian hordes are doing.

@jackpeterson3092

2 жыл бұрын

Ah yes, so your mom liked Russia when it was poor and weak. Got it.

When I watch these videos, I feel like Roman is speaking for me, that's how much I can relate. We're just about the same age and share a similar industrial regional city/working class family background. All the hopes and wishes for the future, the way he talks about it rings home so much it hurts. I also moved to Saint Petersburg not long before Roman did and even randomly ran into him at a supermarket haha. The whole situation breaks my heart. A friend of mine from Kyiv, who I have known since 2013 and talked about music with is now posting pictures of himself in military uniform, defending his homeland and his 5 month old son's future from an invasion being waged by a country that happens to be my home. My best friend is American, my girlfriend has family in Estonia. The music I make speaks of the universal human experience. I'm an English teacher. I want to connect and empathise with people, help them, build relationships. Unfortunately, I now feel stuck, facing the reality of living in an increasingly repressive regime or fighting an uphill battle of trying to make my way out of it.

@maakwatherrie

2 жыл бұрын

Alex, over here (Netherlands) media says currently 4 out of 5 Russians support Putin and its war in Ukraine. Is that really true?

@AlexPigin

2 жыл бұрын

@@maakwatherrie I can’t possibly confirm or deny this with any statistical certainty, I can only tell you that among all my friends or acquaintances, but more importantly, among my 15 or so students (all of various ages, occupations and geographic location) none are pro-war. At the very least 5 of them have already left the country, more, like me, are considering their options abroad. The only people I know to be sort of pro-war or on the fence are my grandparents and my deadbeat uncle who has no job and lives with them. My dad is just lazy, doesn’t go much on the internet and is conflicted about the situation. It’s clear it doesn’t feel right with him but the only (or just about) information he gets/seeks comes from state TV. There is a million more nuances in determining and studying someone’s attitude and a assessment of the war beyond the fact that someone is Russian, such as age, occupation, media preferences etc. You’d do well to find someone who’s more against this war than those Russians who are actively leaving the county or are trying their best to do so, though. I personally believe it is the ultimate protest.

@bellami86

2 жыл бұрын

Почему вы все переезжаете в СПб из пердей? Вместо того, чтобы развивать что-то у себя

@maakwatherrie

2 жыл бұрын

@@AlexPigin won't you get into troubles discussing this publicly on KZread while you're living in Russia?

@AlexPigin

2 жыл бұрын

@@maakwatherrie I hardly think I’m saying anything controversial here and I tread with enough consideration in my day to day life as it is. I’m not gonna hold myself back engaging in civil and honest discussion in the comments here, stating what is simply my personal observations and experiences

You have my respect ❤️👍 Love from Sweden

Thank you for this video. Loved it! I have been thinking about many similar things in regards to Russia and Ukraine here and how things regressed between east and west over the last several years and how the attack on Ukraine made things worse. It will be interesting to see what will happen in the coming months and years and hopefully this Iron Curtain 2 will come down one day soon and that Russia and Ukraine war also ends soon as well.

As a Lithuanian I had a similar experience given my father and grandfather had to live through the USSR and lost many family members and friends to Russians. The attitude and perception of the future was so different back then. That Soviet mentality of fear and oppression still persists, which I understand why so many older people worry about the aggression of Russia

@MisKristalful

2 жыл бұрын

Once I did a mini interview of my great grandma regarding Lithuanian partisans and she was afraid to talk. In free Lithuania!

@theunknown617

2 жыл бұрын

Kai kurie pensininkai iki šiol lygina Sovietmetį su dabartimi.

@darrelldanielson4260

2 жыл бұрын

I watched a KZread video from Peter Santanello not long ago and he was talking to Russian-Americans in South Florida and everyone spoke freely about everything, except for two elderly women (probably in their 70s) that wouldn’t say anything about Russia and you could literally see the fear in their eyes. I’ve heard that this is very common with people who lived during the Soviet era.

@tevastavo4579

2 жыл бұрын

@@MisKristalful my Lithuanian grandma will be 96 this year, and she still doesnt really talk about the war or partisan resistance or any of those things. I believe it's not fear, its just not that easy to relive moments like running to the forest to escape getting raped by russian soldiers who came to their small village. She was 15 at the time, oldest of 4 sisters.

@poptartmcjelly7054

2 жыл бұрын

Lithuanian here: my grandparent was a partisan intelligence officer (partizanų ryšininkas) but unfortunately died of prostate cancer before i had the chance to ask him anything. I do remember, thought, that he was a great and caring person. My other grandpa is still alive and he was in the Soviet army for a while and told me some bits about the past but not much. One thing in particular he told me was that when the borders opened all russian cars became scrap metal just because western cars were so much better. Corruption was a career decision and vodka was a currency. If you wanted a rebuilt engine for your Volga you could just walk over to the military barracks and hand them two jugs of vodka. He said that people who say that "it was better in USSR" are ungrateful idiots and he would not want to go back to the olden days.

"as long as I live, this country that I was born is hopeless, without expectations of improvements." I came to this conclusion and because this, I gave up and I'm going out. I'm leaving, I'm done. I feel the same sadness. All the "poor countries" is the same feeling. I'm Soo Soo sorry for all this shit happening.

@leahwhiteley5164

2 жыл бұрын

Good luck to you. Be safe.

Better not say to much Roman bad things seem to happen take care and look after yourself. Your view is spot on

Wow man. I love how real this is. Speak your truth, this perspective is fascinating as a midwesterner.

I was born in 1999 in Moscow (which is already a filtering factor) and then moved to Europe in 2004, so I haven't lived in Russia for most of my life. I definitely remember the hopeful feeling of it seeming like things are getting better. I mean, here my Russian family was, we're doing well, living in Europe, visited Russia every year. Things seemed like they were improving. I'm obviously isolated from some of the experiences here since I didn't live in Russia for most of my life, but I can still relate to the change in views as time went on and I noticed the shift in culture online. Watching from the sidelines, it's pretty terrifying to watch how things are developing.

@Naschira

2 жыл бұрын

You were born later than the Yeltsin era and practically did not live in Russia, only came to visit. And even so, you've seen improvements. Now imagine those people who were born in the 80s of the last century and in earlier years. All these people lived in the dashing 90s. And for these people, all these improvements were even more noticeable because of the contrast with Yeltsin's rule. That's why Putin has so much support among Russians. And many people aged 35 and over still believe in Putin. To all my fears in connection with the current situation, my mother replies that she will not be worse than in the 90s.

@arina4387

2 жыл бұрын

I was born in 98’ in Omsk but left for Canada in 2004, and I’ve only visited again once in 2009. I remember it being good and people being happy, even though it was kind of weird to me that we still had the same person in power, but I didn’t get it as much back then as I do now. Seeing all this happening now from afar and being able to read the Russian sources which are saying the polar opposite of what everyone else is saying, denying everything and dumping the blame on literally everyone else is heartbreaking. I’m the only person in my family that doesn’t believe everything being reported is a coordinated attack on Russia and it’s people. The only thing I can hope for is that it will be over soon and Ukrainians can be safe in their own country again 💔

@bbgamegodpnw

2 жыл бұрын

@@Naschira it's the truth the west doesn't see, Russians are doing well enough. Putin and the oligarchs know well enough. What the youth to middle aged people can do if they are mad enough. Sigh. I fear all this propaganda from our side is going to cost lives but I'm also aware at what Russia is doing, I get it. But man it is quite painful to imagine my self, getting drafted to war because nato and the east cannot coexist. I wish Russia would just ally with us against China.

@mymonitor1348

2 жыл бұрын

@@Naschira Putin has so much support because if you dont support him you might get poisoned. Opinion polls in Russia are as good as dog excrement.

@Maria29G

2 жыл бұрын

@@Naschira yeah exactly, that the 90s especially were a clear trauma for a good chunk of the population explains why people prefer stability over anything else, and Putin is seen as that stability (though I can't imagine he can still retain that reputation now)

It's crazy how much I can relate to this. Roman is a year older than me but I have a similar background, being from the regions(Rostov), a working class family, also became fully political/oppositional in 2014 for the same reasons(I also watched tvrain before and saw the 2012 Bolotnaya protests thanks to it and supported them). I hated seeing Putin's face even as a little kid because he seemed so condescending, and when Medvedev came I felt like there was a bright future ahead of Russia, all this development and foreign programs were happening, so many opportunities. The internet was full of freedom! Roman is right there was zero online censorship, it's crazy to think about that now. And he's right there were red flag back then too, when they destroyed NTV and took control of the press for example, that was early 2000s. But after 2014 it went full on crazy, that's when the respressiins towards tvrain, an independent TV channel, happened when only a few years before that Medvedev himself was visiting them! Insane. Even with all this bullshit there was still hope that at the very least Putin will die someday and leave behind a shitty but still functioning government, nothing too bad that can't be fixed and certainly better than him but he decided to destroy not only Ukraine but also Russia's potential for developing, maybe precisely because he feels like he's running out of time like Ekaterina Shulman said, he didn't have to do it but he still chose to. These last few years I supported the opposition and I still have hope that things can change, I believe that one day they will, I have to believe but the pain I feel not only for Ukraine but for my own country, a country I love and want the best for, for so many bright young people I know who brought so much good to it from better urban planning to business to human rights organizations, is so deep. Our generation and the generation after us doesn't have a future anymore it was robbed from us, so many Ukrainians have died, been injured, traumatized or had to become refugees, and none of it had to happen if one man didn't choose to start this pointless war. Roman is also right in that most Russians don't seem to realize just how much of a tragedy this is, which is a normal psychological reaction, sociologists like Gregory Udin say that most people are in denial and try to pretend everything is fine to protect themselves from the truth and being in the opposition and knowing the truth now feels like seeing a tsunami from afar and knowing it's gonna destroy everything.

@drzelensky4547

2 жыл бұрын

you are despicable, you talk about ukranians but nothing about the russians living in ukraine being killed. It's better for people like you to move to the US and work at Mcdonalds, and better for russia.

@RandomVideosChannel99

2 жыл бұрын

вы просто тараканы ведомые которых легко купить кредитными печеньками, пожинайте плоды посеянного друзья, вы обосрались

@Spabsa

2 жыл бұрын

You guys need yourself a proper American revolution. You guys go through a revolution every century to just to replace your dictator with a new one. The federation was designed to basically be the USSR in a hidden/weakened form waiting to establish itself as a domineering power again.

Sorry to hear about your loss.

So Much Love From This Lil' Part Ukrainian Person For You 🖤 I Am So Happy You Got Out ! 🖤

An important correction, Roman: even though some guys like me and you have left Russia, we’re a minority. A rather vocal one, but still a minority. Most people have neither a desire nor any means to leave the country. Yerevan and Tbilisi obviously aren’t big enough to accommodate everyone who wants to do it, and even if they were, not everybody is ready to just throw 20-30-40 years of their lives down the toilet (that includes their careers which many people would need to start from scratch). So while it’s important to share your perspective, please don’t fall into the flawed assumption that after 2022 Russia is going to be full of Putinists and everyone who has other views is going to GULAG; the history doesn’t repeat itself THAT BLATANTLY, the reality will be similar but not exactly the same as the early years of the Soviet Union. It’s important to look at things realistically: 2024 and further are still important years and Russia’s path isn’t set in stone even though the damage is obviously devastating; there are still independent political movements in Russia though (Yabloko, Vesna, probably there are others), many movements and media are being reborn right now in exile (Navalny’s ACF and their KZread channels, Novaya Gazeta, Dozhd, etc.). Let’s have some hope, man ;)

@miroz5824

2 жыл бұрын

...it is upon the people... to reclaim their faith, lives and country

2 жыл бұрын

Lets hope you are correct. A lot would have to happen before the world will let this go though. I question if that will happen any time soon.

@vaidotasdarulis

2 жыл бұрын

What is your comment on the assessment that 70-80% of russians actually support putin, don't speak any other language and most of them also has never been anywhere outside of russia? If such assessment is accurate, do you think independent movements stand any chance?

@feverprole

2 жыл бұрын

@@vaidotasdarulis many people support Putin, but they'll support anyone after him just as willingly if the propaganda is right. These are not the people you should jusge a whole nation on - they were turned into sheep over the years. They follow, but rarely ever act.

@dsnodgrass4843

2 жыл бұрын

There might be time for that later, but these are dark days now; and it's not an error for Roman to feel as he does, and express as much. No one you can take seriously will lump all of Russia into the Putinite category after this; there's way too much evidence of the disgruntlement of large sections of the Russian populace even before this latest episode of UR Party aggression, and that's only likely to grow as this "operation" gets more punishing to ordinary people, while the oligarchs remain untouched. The opposition parties you mention are not themselves fully free of oligarch influence; and their messages of moderation may not save them from the same fate as UR as it falls. The "operation" may not be the sole cause of the fall, but may serve as one of the final straws over time with many ordinary "non-vatniks". In sum, folks like you and Roman "voting with their feet" will do a lot more towards the fall of UR than Yabloko or Dozhd ever will; because the country outside Moscow will feel the loss of your presence in a way the oligarchs and preachers and vatniks cannot minimize, however hard they try. I wish you both the best in your arduous journeys.

Having family from Russia and Ukraine is challenging 😥 talking to them is crushing everyone is hating each other

I know your channel for a while now. But I came across this video today. What an insightful and great thought process, Roman. I can understand you and your disbelief in what has happened to your country Russia. I grew up in Germany, but my father came from then Yugoslavia. When the civil war broke out there in the 90's a whole world broke down for me. I just stood there without words and could not believe that something horrific like this could ever happen. I still believe there are decent people in Russia. Thanks again and keep on doing what you're doing xxx 😍🙏

@klubberzvonhatzenbuhl563

9 ай бұрын

Well put, sir.

Oh, **Roman*,* i'm so sorry to ( only JUST now ! ) finally have come to, see and hear this truly marvellous video of yours, and it has honestly left me in tears 🥲.... All of what you spoke about in it is soooo very relatable to virtually anybody, one would imagine; it most certainly is to me - fairly obviously, i suppose. I really am happy to know that you have at least managed to 'get out' when you did, of a country - the one you had for a time been able to feel was more or less 'your own', and for which you indeed had actually entertained such 'high-ish' hopes and aspirations - before it indeed becomes ( ...or, became...?! ) the absolutely draconian total dystopia you so much do appear to be fully aware of its becoming/being, and apparently more so with each passing day 😔.... ~With much love, and sincere heartfelt best wishes, from London UK 💚💖💚💖💚💖💚💖💚

I understand what you mean by Russia having its best years in 2006-2012. I'm from Finland and was born in early 90s. The first vivid memories I have of Russia are rather positive and innocent: t.A.T.u., Russian emo rock fans (that share the same music taste as I), interesting Eurovision entries, animations of Russian history etc. I've never been the biggest fan of Putin (because of his macho man image) but did not have anything particularly bad to say about him either. However, whenever I would say smth positive about Russia to an older acquaintance, you could sense them having a deep, frustrated sigh internally. For them, Russia in 70s-90s was still a vivid memory whereas for me, a 90s baby, that felt like a blast from the past, and I could not believe that in near future, comparisons to Soviet Union would become topical again. I've even accidentally called Russia Soviet Union a couple of times in the past few weeks...

I'm a 22 year old Belarusian. I never had any hope for my country, and basically understood that for as long as our president stays president, nothing will change and things will keep getting worse. But when I say worse I don't mean a full-on fucking war. It's still unbelievable to me how we're basically perpetrators for a war on Ukraine in everything but name. Even while following the news leading up to the invasion I kept thinking, no shot Putin is actually insane enough to start a war, right? Well, he was. Every day I'm thankful that I moved to Czechia to study (and now work) a few years ago. Don't know what I'd do had I stayed home. I miss my family though, I haven't seen them since early 2020 because it's been genuinely unsafe for me to return to my country since the summer of that year. I really hope this insanity will end soon but at this point, who the hell knows when and how that will happen.

@dikenlikalp

2 жыл бұрын

I became obsessed with the situation in Belarus when the everyday protests went on and on after the last election. People of Belarus gained so much respect, risking a lot everyday. At a point Lukashenko was really visibly afraid and walking with a rifle at all times. I really hope you can put an end to his regime. And I hope in my country we will put an end to Erdogan's regime. Stay strong.

@michael_mayer

2 жыл бұрын

Students in eu will get an "humanitarian visa" to stay if they want and are under political pressure. The eu is preparing this right now for students from russia and belarus. it is not out yet but will come soon.

@Puleczech

2 жыл бұрын

Hey GW, really glad you made it. As dire as everything looks right now, I am pretty confident, that these regimes run on outdated ideas mostly supported by generations that will eventually die out. Lukashenko is not immortal, in fact, he has like 10 more years of life maximum? It will be very hard for anyone else to continue in the same way. Be patient but never stop pushing against authoritarian regimes. Greetings from Brno!

@isaacdalziel5772

2 жыл бұрын

On the positive side, the war in Ukraine has shown that Lukashenko doesn't have much control over his army or over anything really. Hopefully he will at some point be overthrown

@jout738

2 жыл бұрын

That Belarussian president and Russian president stay in power, because the guards always ready to do what they say and stand with their opinions, so nothing changes in the dictatorial country then.

Great video, I'm really sorry for how things turned out

I'm from Russia, was born in 2000, feel the same

Я вообще родилась в 91 и помню немного больше, даже тот же дефолт 98ого.. было тяжело но, как ты сам говоришь - все могли критиковать власть, говорить свободно, в моей школе никогда не было ни портрета путина ни политической пропаганды.. она появилась где то к 2010 году. сама наблюдала это мракобесие и думала что хуже быть не может, однако стало...

@robshepherd3782

2 жыл бұрын

Every classroom in the USA has a picture of the president and a flag in it.

@asaa6346

2 жыл бұрын

@@robshepherd3782 only classes that do is our history class you bum

@eldromedario3315

2 жыл бұрын

а сейчас по наследству/предкам в германии ? судя по фамилии или эт прост псевдоним ?

@jamesedwards6173

2 жыл бұрын

@@robshepherd3782 As an American exclusively educated in American schools (except for a single school year in the UK) up through a Masters degree, I can confidently state that your assertion is false.

@navyblu8293

2 жыл бұрын

@@robshepherd3782 American here. There’s always a flag but never a picture of the president.. i dont know where they do that.

I admire your insightfulness, Roman! I'm a 30-yo woman from Finland, and my generation had a front-row seat to the Russia of the '90s and early 2000s. There were times Russia was really progressing, at least seemingly so; especially during the Medvedev administration. A large chunk of us Finns thought that we had pretty good relations with Russia as it were, we had our cooperation and agreements. I visited Russia in 2008 for a long while, I had learned the language before and loved St. Petersburg. I would've loved it if things had stayed that way. For the record, I am so sorry for what has happened to the dreams of most Russians your age. I hope when this all ends, there can be a better era, founded on truth rather than lies. And I believe you can all contribute to that by being courageous and speaking the truth if you are a Russian outside of Russia. In Russia, well, Vladimir Kara-Murza was courageous and was just arrested. I respect that, but I hope he calculated right on this one. The calculus is, if you want people to know the truth within the walls of an oppressive regime, you would want to use covert measures because in this case, overtness will land you in jail. Crimea happened, but Europeans still thought that they could keep the oil/gas trade up. That there was no need to bolster armies or anything. In Finland, though, we always kept a conscription army. We had been attacked by Stalin once and paid a painful price for it. We kept good relations with the US, bought NATO-compatible fighter jets - just in case, but as the will to join NATO wasn't there, we didn't want to ruin our "relations with Russia" without a reason. We thought we had our EU membership, our cooperation, our agreements. But Finland, along with Ukrainians, most Russians of your age group, and many other people around the world realized on that faithful Thursday of 22nd February that the agreements of the current Russian regime, the Putin regime, mean nothing. The words of our president Niinistö were: "Now, the masks are finally off." I found this heartbreaking for Ukrainians who had to choose whether to fight or flee, whom to get out first, what to do with their pets - imagine that, the pets, who feel as much as we feel, suffering for humans' mindless deeds. I saw this girl, who could've been someone going to school with me. I saw these families shot in their cars, their dog shot beside them. And the worst was somehow, is still somehow yet to come. I also felt bad for the ordinary Russians, whose only route out from what was increasingly an Orwellian nightmare, but also still their home, was to go to Georgia or through our train Allegro from Sankt Peterburg to Helsinki. I feel that Ukraine is fighting for the whole of Europe now. I know our government is helping them, sending weapons, ammunition, and other kinds of help. I know it is going to get worse in Ukraine, the general whom Putin has chosen to lead the war is responsible for leveling Aleppo. So they are probably going to use the Syrian playbook. Ukraine is fighting first and foremost for its future, but also for the future of European democracy, for the future of all of us. Finland is already helping Ukraine however it can and will join whatever treaty organizations there are to keep Bucha and Mariupol from happening here, or if we want our own examples, to keep the "Mainila shots" or Mainilan laukaukset, a red flag operation with which the USSR started the Winter War, from happening. So much for NATO "expanding". We never would've joined if that aggressor would've kept within his borders. So when the trolls, propagandists, or whoever says this, it is very much a moot point. NATO is a group of sovereign countries that have legitimate fears and concerns that their country and their democracy would be destroyed if they were alone. They are right. The Winter War taught Finland, that being alone against the Soviet giant is a dangerous game. We got away when Stalin decided the costs were too high, he told us the terms for peace and we had to capitulate and through that, lose a lot of ground, but we got to keep out from the Soviet Union. There is a lot more, including the continuation war, but the lessons of the winter war apply here. I'm happy Ukraine actually gets the help it was promised. We didn't, back then. I wonder how this whole clusterf*ck will end. Stay safe, Roman! You are doing the correct thing here. Keep your channel up, and discuss what you can within the limits of the situation. And, just try to take time for yourself, so that you don't become consumed in this war. This update of yours was really important. To me and to many others.

@dumigamez397

2 жыл бұрын

Perfectly said.

@tysonreuter5788

2 жыл бұрын

Your fundamental misunderstanding of the entire situation is astounding given the absolute endless fire house of bullshit here. But I’ll address just a few things... 1. NATO is a group of sovereign countries? That is laughable, these governments are all controlled by the same western financial systems/IMF/ NGO’s receiving carpe Blanche and fnding to push foreign ideologies and laws on their people. 2. Finland would’ve never wanted to join NATO had Russia not invaded Crimea? Crimea was part of Russia nearly all it’s history, calling it is hostile takeover is ridiculous. The legitimate Ukrainian gov was overthrown in a US/EU backed coup in 2014 and many eastern regions declared the gov illegitimate and declared independence. Crimeans overwhelmingly supported separation from Ukraine. 3. Vladimir Mursa was caught on videotape in a Moscow cafe conducting covert activity with a US CIA officer. In America that person would’ve been locked up and the key thrown away. These so called opposition leaders like Navalny never had any serious public support in Russia. As an American who lived there for 4 years I can tell you this for a fact, and you should know better. Yeltsin presided over tremendous suffering, crime, abuses by authorities and was beloved by western diplomats as they helped up carve the Soviet Union’s resources for oligarchs bought off by outside international business interests. Putin was adored and the Georgian war was ignored until he started removing western financial dominance in the country. You have a lot of experience and zero wisdom unfortunately.

@gregmuon

2 жыл бұрын

Very well written and expressed.

@Ben7Roethlisberger

2 жыл бұрын

Finland enjoyed peace with the Soviet Union/Russia ever since the end of WW2, when it in fact should have been annexed after all the horrible crimes it committed with the Nazis. Most people of his generation would be more than ready to protect Russia from NATO expansionist into Finland, an OFFENSIVE military organisation that gangs up, steals and plunders. I can assure you that there is much better future for Russia with China than with the west, and the guy in the video speaks for an overwhelming minority (including those of his generation). Putins approval rating has now sky-rocketed among all demographics.

@LS12F

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for your informative post. Despite the fact that at the time Finnish were greatly outnumbered, they resisted for an extraordinary amount of time. They deserve huge respect for their resistance. I completely agree that today Ukrainians are fighting for peace and democracy for the rest of us. They are already the moral winners.

Your attitude reminds me of a young Russian I met in India in maybe 1986. He'd gotten completely disillusioned with life in the USSR, managed to get on a flight to Kabul (this is during the Afghan War), slipped out of Kabul and walked from there to Pakistan, and from there traveled to exile in India. He had exactly the same rage against the machine you have. I sure hope he didn't head back after the fall of the Soviet Union, just to re-live the entire experience as a middle-aged man.

Great! Thank you

It's so surreal right now to be a Russian. I'm a student and came to Poland as an exchange student a week before the war. Everything doesn't feel real anymore. Russia froze in my imagination and now I don't know what I'll come back to. I hope there is something to come back to.

@barbarusbloodshed6347

2 жыл бұрын

might not be a good idea to go back... ?

@scottscottman8354

2 жыл бұрын

@@barbarusbloodshed6347 yeah, I know. But what choice do I have? I have no money, and I've been told that Polish universities stopped accepting new Russian students for the time being. I'd love to, but from what I can tell there's no way of staying here :(

@joujou264

2 жыл бұрын

It's not like this was just sudden and out of nowhere, discounting the weeks of border posturing, discounting even the mess of Crimea and eastern Ukraine that Russia caused starting in 2014, this happening was no surprise to any of us that live in bordering countries.

@norwegianboyee

2 жыл бұрын

@@scottscottman8354 A lot of young Russians have been leaving your country already, it is impossible for me to imagine the situation they are going through. But is it right to leave? Even if your country is becoming less the way you want it to be, shouldn't they at least try to make it better? I don't know what i would do if my country became embroiled in war or turned evil. But i at least think i wouldn't want to leave. Again, it's an difficult situation for you and i am sorry. Though you should be careful just in case Russian state is monitoring your comments online.

@TheAquabears

2 жыл бұрын

Hate to say it, but the smart thing to do is not go back.

Роман, спасибо что даёшь людям зарубежом понять что происходит в нашей стране. Ты лицо нашего поколения в западном мире. Нам всем придется сильно потрудиться чтобы возродить нашу страну. Соболезнования семьям погибших Украинцев и Россиян. Слава Украине! Жыве Беларусь! Россия будет свободной!

@k3vpsr522

2 жыл бұрын

in cha allah

@behemoththekitty

2 жыл бұрын

Проблема в том что в 90е люди тоже трудились потом впали в пропагандический гипноз и разрушили все свои достижения. А те кто проснулись, проснулись медлено и поздно. Уйдет путин. Будут 90е 2.0 потом немного демократии и оптимизма, ваше поколение потрудится потом замечтает о величии и опять та же херня.

@salamander4668

2 жыл бұрын

>жыве беларусь Понял, принимай защеку.

@ekesa07632

2 жыл бұрын

Тут самое страшное это читать сколько иностранцев, многие из которых даже русский не знают, поддерживают путинский режим хотя бы чтобы мы жили в говне, думая что им будет хорошо. То есть они поддерживают войну и все прочее потому что им не надо ни от солдат убегать, не из оружия стрелять. Сидят у себя дома чешат себе яйца и говорят что нам надо делать в восточной Европе(

@egor_sy4

2 жыл бұрын

@@behemoththekitty За всю историю России было несколько периодов где 5-10 лет было норм, а потом опять пиздец😕

Thank you for sharing all the details of change between the end of the Soviet Union and the present day, with all its ups and downs, from someone who has grown up and is continuing to live through it! This has been fascinating, with a few good laughs because you have a quicksilver wit! Being a "baby boomer" in the U.S. raised by parents who were unconventional next to many of their generation, I have always watched the waves of change and turbulence in my country and others with fascination, and hope as well as some fear. Blessings to you; you got this, and this is a time of evolution in our collective consciousness, full of unpredictability including the possibility of much change for the better again. You are very intelligent and aware, and can teach people a lot! Keep up the great work, stay safe and all the best!

It's such a tragedy. Well put mate

I am 28 and live in Russia all my life and things have been steadily getting worse and worse since at least 2010. Nothing new. I expected one day it could be this bad I just didn't think it would happen so soon

@taterkaze9428

2 жыл бұрын

Get out while you still can.

@KateeAngel

2 жыл бұрын

@@taterkaze9428 I can't. Or rather say that I am too scared. My social anxiety is huge, as well as regular anxiety and depression. Due to my mental health problems I won't be able to adapt somewhere new where I am alone. Recently I have even thought I soon will be unable to work at all. So far I can though

@hanhbuik15hl2

2 жыл бұрын

Do you think things get worsen since 2010 or russian just become more and more open minded since then ? Because i do feel like there aren't just changes in the social/political aspect but people's mentality change as well

@pregnantyellowfish

2 жыл бұрын

The same in the west and U.K.. I can pin point a huge decline here since 2010. There is a war on the common people. It may look different on a surface glance but hearing this video, it’s obvious the goal of totalitarian control is the same everywhere. It’s just tailor fit to bring down each country because we are different people with different histories

@KateeAngel

2 жыл бұрын

@@hanhbuik15hl2 hard to say. I don't know. People here have "short memory", they believe current propaganda and easily forget the promises and claims made only several months ago. That is the state of mind of most people who watch TV. They just don't think and analyse at all. The day the propaganda disappears and is replaced by real news, they will change their mind just as quickly. If they aren't dead by that point

Honestly as a Finnish person the current development of Russia is really frustrating to watch, because with a different political culture and right policies Russia could have become one of the wealthiest and best countries to live.

@aurin_komak

2 жыл бұрын

Corruption fucks up everything. Which ironically is somewhat _good_ right now, as it has also fucked up the Russian military. If Russia's defence, well, offence budget wasn't spent on yachts and mansions, Ukraine would be even more fucked now

@divx1001

2 жыл бұрын

@@aurin_komak so true. I don't know if we can ever hope in a good government when it's run by imperfect humans :(

@aurin_komak

2 жыл бұрын

@@divx1001 Don't worry lad, Putler has his other foot in the grave already. I think after Putin the leaders are gonna improve at least somewhat, though for an actual good leader you got a long way to go. I believe in you lads, it's terrifying to live in the worst case scenario

@andrewlynch4126

2 жыл бұрын

@@aurin_komak it kinda reminds me of something I heard about the Falkland war, if the Argentine government was competent enough to win the war they would have never had started it.

@aurin_komak

2 жыл бұрын

@@andrewlynch4126 true

This is brilliant. Thank you

I appreciate you making this video

My hearts out to you man. I feel similarly about my country too. I live in Hungary, and it’s such a sad site to see how our corrupt government steals the tax payers money and the EU funds. Although I know that we have much better here than the average Russian people, but it’s heartbreaking to see the amount of potential going to waste, just because people are corrupt and flawed.

@drag0nfi5t

2 жыл бұрын

Hi, I want to ask some questions about politics in Hungary. Everything I hear from Hungary is mainly about how bad the EU is. Is that a more recent development or was it already a long time because why even join the EU if you do not care about the core values? and why stay in the EU if it's that bad? Or won't Hungary leave because of the EU funding? Because I wonder if a politician is always saying how bad the EU is, but doesn't do anything in the direction of leaving the EU, then why believe him that the EU is that bad? Do hungarians mainly read state news and don't trust other news? Are other parties also so anti-EU or is orbans party really the best of what's available? Just trying to understand the current mindset of hungarians and how it became that way

@BigB848484

2 жыл бұрын

@@drag0nfi5t I'm a hungarian too. The EU is bad stuff mainly comes from the goverments side. Most people in the opposition mostly like the EU and want to be a part of it still. The problem here is that the oppsition parties suck badly (a bunch of politicians are in oppsitional parties that used to be part of the previous government before 2010, which everyone hated basically - but thats a longer story), and the government basically brainwashes the poor rural population. The poor people in the rural areas get shit like a bag of potatoes or 10000 Fts (roughly 30 euros) for christmas from the government and shitty minimum wage jobs like road building and stuff, so they vote on the government, because they fear that if the opposition wins they wont even get that. The other problem is old people, who grew up during the communist times and they hated it. So all the government has to do is to convince them that everyone on the left and in the eu are just as bad as those communists were back then and they will vote for them. Also the only free TV channels (which you dont have to pay any subscription for) are controlled by the government and oligarchs around government people. What they do basically is steal money, but give back just enough so that they get reelected. If you know enough about the russian situation its basically the same, just on a smaller level.

@ferryfearer8534

2 жыл бұрын

Lol Hungary steals from EU you wanted to say

@AlfaGiuliaQV

2 жыл бұрын

@@BigB848484 Thank you for your explanation. I live in Finland and we always wonder how the hell hungary gets away with complaining about EU and seemingly just want to fuck with us regarding common challenges and values. We have this feeling that we should ask for you to be kicked out, but then it´s better to have you inside in case orban wants to go dictator and screw the innocent people.

@vanaver

2 жыл бұрын

@@drag0nfi5t Woah, that's a big question. To summarize as much as possible -> The EU is mainly a trade union in which a LOT of financial gains can be made by the member states IF they abide by the rules laid out by the "constitution" so to speak of the EU. This includes things like not wasting money on corruption, accepting gay rights, and such.... in recent years there has been a rise of some right wing or autocratic movements (which we now know has likely been influenced by Putin over many years, sounds like tinfoil hat nonsense but there is actually enough evidence in the Trump elections and the Brexit that he's been mucking about, but nothing's been done with it). Ummm... long story short -> Orban is becoming an autocrat, is using propaganda to make the EU look like an enemy to scare the Hungarians so he can stay in power, and yes he's still in the EU because of aaaaalllll the money he get's from the EU (but that might change now).

This really is the most open Roman has been on russian politics while its brave I hope it doesn't get him into trouble regarding going home eventually.

@mememaster5748

2 жыл бұрын

This video feels like he has given up on going back

@castorchua

2 жыл бұрын

I hope he never has to go back. Don't think he will.

@Insert-Retarded-Reply-Here

2 жыл бұрын

@@castorchua that’s f**ked up it’s his home ffs, Georgia is not is home and you can tell he doesn’t consider Georgia his home

@LS-Moto

2 жыл бұрын

@@mememaster5748 Most who leave will not come back. The sanctions will make existing in Russia impossible in the long run. Those who left will have established great things abroad in the meantime.

@dcv7465

2 жыл бұрын

@@LS-Moto yeah, and once they start families and businesses overseas they have even more to lose by going back. The longer they're gone, the less likely they will ever return.

Nice to see that you are starting to speak out about the things that really matter , don't stop and you will get your freedom back one day

Caro Roman, ti auguro di poter realizzare i tuoi sogni e che il tuo paese torni ad essere felice come tu speri. Nella vita non bisogna mai arrendersi ai violenti. Un abbraccio di cuore da Italia.