We Spoke To Shocked and Disorientated Russian Civilians In A Town Captured By Ukraine

Russian civilians in the border town of Sudzha appeared shocked and disorientated after it was captured by Ukrainian forces as part of the ongoing Ukrainian offensive into Russia's Kursk region. They spoke of their experience in interviews with Roman Palyuch of @RadioSvobodaUkraine during a media tour on August 20. Identities have been concealed to protect against possible retribution for talking to RFE/RL.

#ukrainewar #ukrainenews #ukrainerussiawar #kursk #rferl #russianews

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[jiyushugi]

They aren't interested in politics but politics is interested in them.

[mesel]

I used to live in Russia and can never forget when people suddenly turned into zombies and began to repeat that "politics are for politician, not for us" and "I'm not interested in politics." It was one of the creepiest things that I have ever experienced. It's a disclaimer that they repeat over and over.

[SarahBowmer]

Wilful ignorance. At least they are being treated better than the Ukrainian civilians in Bucha were

[GamePlayShare]

- Dad why we are being taken to a concentration camp?
- Dunno, son. I am not interested in politics.

[anthonyhulse]

I’m not political. I’m not interested in politics. I just like crosswords.

The FSB loves to hear this.

That’s why there’s no backlash against putin.

[lanaspringer]

As a person who was born in Ukraine, raised in Russia, and spent a half of my life in the US I want to thank everyone who took time to write a nice, decent comment about Ukrainian Army. You are not confused or fooled by Ukrainian propaganda - Ukrainians really are honorable people, they went through the hell of russian war and got only better, didn’t lose dignity, kindness, the best human qualities. I have close relatives in both countries and I know the truth. I support Ukrainian army since the beginning of this horrible war.

[bobjohnbowles]

The ingrained fear of discussing politics is palpable. However, it is noticeable there are no demonstrations against the Ukrainians, and the people even seem to be grateful to receive the help from Ukraine that was withheld by their own government.

[jonno]

The difference between Russian occupation of Ukrainian territory and Ukrainian occupation of Russian territory is like night and day.

[fangan]

The sentence that every Russian knows and uses as an excuse: I'm not interested in politics.

[jamesedwards]

I have a Facebook friend who lives in a village not far from the Russian border with Ukraine. She is lucky that she can get a signal from a nearby tower in Ukraine and we can keep in contact if only intermittently.
She tells me that she was surprised to see Ukrainian soldiers outside her house and terrified she was about to be raped and killed because that is what she has always been told would happen but instead, all that did happen was they offered her food and water and asked if she needed any medical help and when she said no fearing she would be punished by her own people if she excepted all they did was tell her they were setting up a place nearby where if she did need anything she could go and then moved on, by all accounts she has not seen an armed Ukrainian soldier since but plenty of aid workers running around helping the elderly and those in need of medical help.
Her friends tell her it's all a trick by Ukraine and that they are there to steal their land and loot their homes but she has seen none of this. the homes of the people that have left are untouched and what few have been damaged have only been so because Russian soldiers entered them to shoot at Ukrainians.
Her question to me continues to be. 'Is this what it is like in the West, where the government actually really does help people in need and not just shoot them'. and it is hard for her to accept after decades of being told otherwise when I tell her that yes this is really what it is like, that people simply do these things because they can and not because they want anything in return. So it is no surprise to me they are shocked and confused at all, and Ukraine should be right proud of the way its armed forces have behaved in the Kursk oblast to date.

[nickloveridge]

Maybe Russians should be more interested in politics.

[Illyrian_Adventures]

"you can ignore politics, but the politics wont ignore you."

[waynemacdougall]

It's unbelievable that they think the war started August 6

[hardtackbeans]

'I'm not interested in politics' - Which is exactly why you are in this predicament.

[tomkeegan]

So many Russian's say, im not political. Are they afraid to give an honest opinion?

[FeelingLikeThatNow]

Incredible journalism in a war zone, so thank you for providing this excellent report.

[paulschmitz]

Q: What is the difference between apathy & ignorance?
A: I don't know & I don't care.

[tileux]

"Im not interested in politics". How many times do we hear that from russians? But then the old trotsky quote comes back: "You may not be interested in war, but war is interested in you". Russians have clearly forgotten Trotsky - or had their interest in him blocked.

[Lucas-vdgx]

"I am not interested in Politics" See what that gets you?