comment: >
  
  Yeah I understand that the lack of dissent. God knows I wouldn't be a hero there right now.
  But lo and behold, if you take a single thing away from them like traveling abroad, out come Russians with newfound interest in politics. Like they're the victim.
  So rebelling right now will cost them everything but sitting down and shutting up costs nothing. Ukranians would love that their biggest problem right now would be a cancelled vacation.
  I'll be sure to watch that doc, though. There's one called Trauma Zone that's lauded as well.
context: I mean, their leadership keeps saying the world outside of the Russian Federation is collapsing, they don't need anyone, and are ready to nuclear bomb the planet to ashes.
  So which one is it? >
  
  This is so confusing to me. With all major brands fleeing the country, how can they justify their own continued success? How does the general population perceive that? >
  
  They've gone through that "self sufficient" bullshit before, in USSR times, conveniently forgetting that NOT everything behind the Iron Curtain was Russia.
  A conglomerate of states trading between themselves and to a limited extent with Africa and the Middle East can't be compared to what is happening now, but hey, reliving the glorious past... >
  
  I’ve visited and I am aware of how much is made and used for internal consumption, but there was an intrinsic component of their culture that was a representation of freedom. How westernised their malls were and how many name brands they used on their daily lives. 
  It is baffling to me how this changed within months. >
  
  Eh, I'm living in one of those EU states from Eastern Europe, and after over 30 years after getting rid of communism there are still nostalgic old timers. They don't appreciate 'the new' and find comfort in the old hardships, the known recipes, where they are still knowledgeable and relevant. 
  The very young can be easily brainwashed, and the adults (30-50) are basically the only ones with a grasp of what's really going on and what's at stake.
  What baffles me is that for all this time the regime did not account for their reliance on western technology and components. Not as good as they planned their energy blackmail anyway. >
  
  no, russia's war fuels mental health crisis... don't try to deflect the cause to the isolation or other exterior factors... it's the war, nothing else. >
  
  Kind of like treating a fever when there is a knife in the patients infected chest. >
  
  more like blaming the doktors for a cancerpatient feeling pain... >
  
  More like running into a mall laughing maniacally, stabbing as many pregnant mothers and children you come across, and then when you get thrown into a padded cell with a straitjacket on, you start getting sad about being lonely. >
  
  That is an accurately cynical summation of exactly what is happening. You have a perfectly dark sense of humor. I like it. >
  
  It'd be easier to feel sorry for Russian if there was even a semblance of solidarity towards Ukraine and understanding the reasons for the sanctions. If it was my country doing the invading, I wouldn't love the sanctions, but I would understand them. But instead it's me-me-me, whinging about the travel ban, pleading regular Russians should be left alone like some endangered animals.