It is an example of the type of compromise that has been made by some employees of the Kremlin's propaganda machine over the years - individuals who valued the stability of their job and the creative challenges it presented, even if they did not agree with the mission of their workplace. Recently, after President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine, Likin resigned from his position as the long-serving art director for Channel 1, a major player in the Kremlin's propaganda network. He asserted that he was not a political figure, but the invasion forced him to be a part of an operation with a destructive agenda. Likin mentioned in a phone interview that in Russia, television is tailored for those who do not make the effort to seek out alternative sources of information, such as individuals lacking education or critical thinking skills. Putin's actions in Ukraine have prompted some Russians who have worked for the government to sever ties, signaling a struggle within the Kremlin to maintain complete societal support for the war. Thousands of people have been arrested for protesting against the invasion of Ukraine, with tens of thousands fleeing the country. On Wednesday, Anatoly Chubais, Putin's climate envoy, became the first senior government official to resign since the invasion began on Feb 24. Several high-profile resignations have also taken place at Russia's state television channels, which are crucial for Putin's control over domestic politics. Marina Ovsyannikova, a Channel 1 staff member who interrupted a live news broadcast to display an anti-war poster, made a particularly bold act of protest. Other resignations, such as Likin's, have been more quiet, revealing the unrest within Putin's system and the significant influence of television in shaping public opinion on the war. Zhanna Agalakova, a Channel 1 correspondent who resigned, described the atmosphere among her colleagues as one of clinical depression. Many thoughtful individuals are feeling a sense of guilt, with no clear solution in sight. Merely seeking forgiveness is not sufficient. The Kremlin controls all of Russia's national television networks, although their influence has decreased with the popularity of YouTube and social media. Despite this, state television remains the primary source of news for the majority of Russians, with about two-thirds relying on it in the past year. The state television channels have portrayed the conflict in a way that contrasts sharply with Western views, depicting Russians as the heroes bringing liberation to Ukrainian lands seized by neo-Nazis funded by the dominant West, similar to their role in World War II against Nazi Germany. Images of deceased civilians and destroyed residences are often incorrectly labeled as either fake or the result of Ukrainians bombing their own areas. According to a Channel 1 reporter broadcasting from Mariupol, Ukrainians are accusing the Ukrainian military of intentionally targeting residential buildings, while others claim that nationalists were instructed to inflict as much damage on the city before retreating. Polls indicate that many Russians believe this narrative, which aligns with the anti-Western sentiment that Russian television has been promoting for years. Despite this, most state television journalists have remained in their positions, intensifying the message of Russia fighting for its survival. Liliya Gildeyeva, a former anchor at the state-run NTV, expressed understanding for her colleagues who stayed, as she herself had compromised her principles before realizing the extent of her actions once the war began. She stated that when you slowly start to give up on yourself, you may not realize how far you have fallen. The war has caused a significant number of Russians to leave the country in recent weeks, with many traveling to destinations like Turkey and Armenia. While some fleeing individuals were journalists and activists trying to avoid arrest, others were tech workers and young professionals who no longer saw a promising future in Russia. Even some members of Russia's elite have left, with Chubais, the Kremlin's climate envoy, resigning and departing the country due to the war in Ukraine. The Kremlin has confirmed that Chubais has resigned. He was considered one of the few liberal officials left in Putin's government, and his prominent role in the economic reforms of the 1990s in Moscow made him unpopular among many Russians. It is uncertain whether the dissatisfaction among some of the elite could have any impact on destabilizing Putin's government. Likin, the former art director of Channel 1, expressed his belief that those willing to resign based on their principles were a small minority in Russia. Agalakova, a former correspondent for Channel 1, commented that many of her former colleagues who chose to remain did not work for a particular cause. Individuals have family responsibilities, financial obligations, and basic needs to meet in order to survive. Leaving a job in state television, especially if one speaks out, can lead to an uncertain future. Agalakova, who was a correspondent based in Paris, mentioned that some of her acquaintances stopped talking to her after she left her job. Likin, on the other hand, plans to remain in Russia and continue working as an architect, but would consider returning to television if the programming shifted to be more positive. Despite government-sponsored polls showing support for Putin's actions, analysts believe that survey responses may not be accurate during times of war. Agalakova now realizes that years of propaganda on Russian television helped create support for the current government's policies by distorting Russians' perceptions of their country's history. Agalakova expressed her dismay at the Kremlin's false claims of fighting Nazis in Ukraine, stating that it is a deceitful and manipulative tactic that elicits strong reactions from society. Despite the propaganda campaign, Russians who are skeptical of television news are finding it increasingly difficult to access accurate information. The liberal Echo of Moscow radio station has been shut down, TV Rain is no longer broadcasting for the safety of its staff, and the government has blocked access to social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. In addition, journalist Alexander Nevzorov is currently 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 a new law that could result in up to 15 years in prison for anyone who strays from the official narrative regarding the conflict in Ukraine. Denis Volkov, from the Levada polling center, believes that the true test for Russian public opinion will come when the economic hardships caused by Western sanctions start to impact society. Volkov also thinks that the Kremlin's narrative, which portrays the West as undermining Ukraine to harm Russia and Russia as heroically defending its people abroad, has become deeply ingrained in the minds of television viewers and is unlikely to be challenged any time soon. According to Volkov, many Russians simply accept news that aligns with the television narrative and reject anything that does not, regardless of its truthfulness.