It exemplifies the type of compromise that has been made by some employees of the Kremlin propaganda machine - individuals who appreciated the steady employment and creative challenges, even if they did not agree with the organization's objectives. Recently, Likin resigned as the art director for Channel 1, a major player in the Russian state television network and Kremlin's propaganda apparatus, following President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine. Likin, who stated he was not a politician, felt that the invasion aligned him with a harmful agenda. He noted that Russian television is primarily consumed by individuals who are either too lazy to seek alternative sources of information or lack education and critical thinking skills. The invasion of Ukraine has prompted some Russian government employees to sever ties with the regime, indicating a struggle within the Kremlin to maintain full societal support for the war. Thousands have been arrested protesting the invasion of Ukraine, with tens of thousands fleeing the country. Anatoly Chubais, Putin's climate envoy, resigned on Wednesday, becoming the first senior government official to do so since the invasion on Feb 24. Several high-profile resignations have also occurred at Russia's state television channels, which are crucial to Putin's control over domestic politics. Marina Ovsyannikova's live protest on Channel 1, where she unfurled an anti-war poster, was particularly notable. Other resignations, such as Likin's, have been quieter but still reveal the turmoil within Putin's system and the significant influence of television on how Russians perceive the war. Zhanna Agalakova, a Channel 1 correspondent who resigned recently, described her colleagues as "clinically depressed." Many intelligent individuals are feeling a sense of guilt and there seems to be no way out. Merely asking for forgiveness is not sufficient. Despite the decline in influence due to the popularity of YouTube and social media, Russia's national television networks, controlled by the Kremlin, remain the primary source of news for the public. According to surveys by the Levada Center, about two-thirds of Russians relied on state television for news in the past year, a decrease from 90% in 2014. State television channels have portrayed the conflict in a way that is vastly different from Western perspectives, depicting Russians as the heroes bringing liberation to Ukrainian lands occupied by neo-Nazis supported by the West. Images of deceased civilians and destroyed homes are incorrectly labeled as either fake or the result of Ukrainians bombing themselves. A Channel 1 reporter stated that local residents in Mariupol believe the Ukrainian military is intentionally targeting residential buildings. Polls show that most Russians believe the narrative presented on state television, which portrays the war as a natural progression of longstanding grievances against the West. Despite some journalists leaving their positions, many have remained and are intensifying the message of Russia fighting for its right to exist. Former NTV anchor Liliya Gildeyeva, who left her job, admitted that she had compromised her values before realizing the extent of her actions when the war began. "She mentioned that when you slowly give in to yourself, you may not realize how far you have fallen. The shock of the war has led to a significant number of Russians leaving the country in recent weeks, on flights to destinations like Turkey and Armenia. Among those leaving are journalists, activists, tech workers, young professionals, and even some members of Russia's elite. One notable departure was Chubais, the Kremlin's climate envoy, who resigned over the war in Ukraine and left Russia." The Kremlin has confirmed that Chubais has resigned. He was considered one of the few liberal officials left in Putin's government, and his key role in the economic reforms of the 1990s in Moscow made him unpopular among many Russians. It is uncertain if the discontent among some of the elite could pose a threat to Putin's government. Likin, the former art director of Channel 1, expressed his belief that individuals like himself who are willing to resign based on their principles are a small minority in Russia. Agalakova, the former correspondent of Channel 1, commented that many of her former colleagues who chose to stay did not work for a particular ideal. People who leave their jobs at state television, especially those who speak out, are unsure about their future. Agalakova, who was a correspondent based in Paris, mentioned that some people she knew stopped talking to her after she left. Likin, on the other hand, plans to stay in Russia and continue his career as an architect, but is open to returning to television if it changes its narrative. Government polls suggest that most Russians support Putin's invasion, but analysts believe that people may not be truthful in surveys during times of war. Agalakova now understands that years of propaganda on Russian television have influenced public opinion and support for the current government's policies. Agalakova stated that when the idea of Nazism is mentioned in society, particularly in relation to Ukraine, people react immediately, in response to the Kremlin's false claims of Russia fighting Nazis in Ukraine. She described this as a deceitful and shameless tactic. With the spread of propaganda, Russians who are skeptical of television have limited sources for accurate news. The Echo of Moscow radio station and TV Rain independent television channel have been shut down, while access to Facebook and Instagram has been blocked by the government. Additionally, journalist Alexander Nevzorov is under criminal investigation for sharing information about the Russian bombing of Mariupol on his Instagram page. The most recent attempt to instill fear in critics of the war involves promoting a new law that could result in up to 15 years in prison for straying from the official narrative of the conflict in Ukraine. Denis Volkov, the director of the Levada polling center, believes that the true test of Russian public opinion will come as the economic consequences of Western sanctions are felt. Despite this, Volkov thinks that the Kremlin's narrative of the West undermining Ukraine and Russia heroically defending its people abroad has become deeply rooted in the minds of television viewers and is unlikely to be challenged in the near future. Many Russians tend to accept news that aligns with the television narrative and dismiss anything that contradicts it, regardless of its truthfulness.