The civilised world, from Europe to New Zealand, has imposed an unprecedented number of economic and individual sanctions (more than 5,530) against Russia. 350 international corporations, firms and banks have left the Russian market. Close to $300 billions of Russia’s gold and foreign exchange reserves are frozen. The Kremlin has become a toxic global outcast, and attitudes toward Russian students, artists, athletes, and entrepreneurs have changed dramatically around the world. The political and diplomatic isolation of the aggressor empire intensified. This situation has already hit 16 million Russians, who, according to Rosstat, are below the poverty line.

Unfortunately, the inertia of public opinion and strong federal propaganda must be taken into account. But according to the Levada Centre, there is already a deepening contradiction in the assessment of the situation between the more informed residents of megacities and the marginalised inhabitants of the Russian “hinterland”.