Emmanuel
Guillén Lozano

This series explores the subtleties of daily life in Moscow and Saint Petersburg during the summer following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. As the country attempts to project a sense of normalcy, a tense calm prevails—sustained by strict control of the narrative, enforced not only by the authorities but also by ordinary citizens willing to report those who publicly or privately dissent from the regime’s actions in Ukraine. Public squares filled with events, bustling bars, and other familiar scenes underscore how quickly resistance and protest were subdued. After more than 15,000 people were arrested during antiwar demonstrations, many who opposed the invasion came to believe that taking a stand would change nothing.

Many anti-regime Russians fled as soon as possible to countries like Turkey, Georgia, and beyond. Those unable to leave—or who chose to stay—face painful decisions: sever ties with family or friends who support the war, or accept that they may never change their minds. As a result, most avoid discussing the war altogether, contributing to a pervasive sense of hopelessness and emotional detachment from what is increasingly perceived as a distant and untouchable reality.