So, all these people fleeing Russia

[intrepidity]

Can we accurately infer that they are only now concerned because *they* might have to fight?

During the past months, informal polling of Russians seemed to indicate that, at minimum, half of Russians supported this war (probably closer to two-thirds).

Do we suppose that they are the ones leaving, now that it will affect them personally? Or, that the ones leaving were always against the war? Yes, a mix, but mostly which?

[Walleye]

1. They never thought the war would touch them.

[Srkdqltr]

2. What possible difference would that make? And, how would anyone know?

[Tetrachloride]

3. I discount the idea that polls in Russia are

tolerably accurate, especially when war casualties become increasingly clear.

My Russian acquaintances have been under the radar their whole lives.

[GoCubsGo]

4. They are also highly propagandized.

As I understand things, it's like every news outlet is Russian FoxNews. They only get to hear what Putin wants them to hear.

[intrepidity]

9. When I say informal polls, I mean from various vloggers I watch

Their personal observations

[Treefrog]

13. This.

[kysrsoze]

5. Don't forget they were all told lies about the purpose and how it was going. Dissenting news sources

were shut down. This is the propaganda capital of the world we're talking about. The majority of the public is dirt-poor and doesn't spend time on social media or read international news sources, and many of the wealthy, wiser populace left the country months ago. Even many Russian soldiers had no idea who they were fighting or why.

When you consider half of the U.S. fell for Russian propaganda, this isn't something people should be surprised with.

[intrepidity]

10. So, they suddenly learned the truth?

I agree with much of what you say, but this sudden mass exodus doesn't square with prior ignorance.

[2naSalit]

15. For many of them, yes...

They are finally getting info, like the phone calls from Ukraine. We aren't hearing that family back home is rejecting what they are being told from the outside anymore.

I think many are getting the news, finally, and seeing that it is true now that conscription on a massive scale is starting, yeah, they're just getting it.

And there are still those who are leaving for economic reasons, they don't want to live a worse shithole than they have been in. And the country is going to be a shithole for a long time, until it breaks up and other influences emerge.

[Lovie777]

6. Apparently through Russia's propaganda machines ......

many Russians did not know the truth, fact of what Russia did and still is doing to Ukraine.

That said, I don't think Russians in general want physical contact with the "enemy", what Putin is calling the Ukrainians.

[Lancero]

7. The worst thing is that we've already got countries saying they'll grant these fuckwads asylum.

The very same shitbags who, for months, did nothing but give support to Russias invasion.

But now that Russia wants soldiers, they proclaim pacifism?

Whatever asylum the West considers giving Russian citizens would be far better off being used to benefit Ukrainians, fleeing their wartorn country.

[kysrsoze]

8. I think it's a stretch to assume those leaving actually supported the war. I suspect the majority

were minding their own business, and many probably did not support the war. I'm sure there were some who were OK with what they were told was reality. Either way, the vast majority are going to Turkey, where a visa is not required. Turkey may have soon have a refugee problem on its hands.

[Lancero]

12. Their silence is support.

[kysrsoze]

18. OK... very easy for you to say from where you sit, keyboard warrior.

[moonscape]

21. There were protests but mass arrests and

I can understand, being a chicken myself, just keeping one's head down for self preservation. Not easy and not everyone has the courage to put their life on the line without being sure the sacrifice will make a difference. Tough calculation.

[MissB]

24. protesting can mean being sent to the front

So yeah, if they're quiet, I can't totally blame them. It's not like here where we can protest in the street and then go home to our families.

[Treefrog]

14. Wow. "Shitbags?"

Young men who don't want to fight?

You know absolutely nothing about these people. SMH.

[2naSalit]

16. Perhaps your lens is a bit cloudy...

With judgemental themes.

[Treefrog]

26. The judgement in that post is exactly what I was talking about.

[Amishman]

11. Here is an example - English fluent Russian attention seeker who did a 180 after conscription notice

https://twitter.com/dasrgen

long established twitter account that often posts photos, so less likely to be a fake.

English fluent Russian who was militantly pro-war pro-Russian military - until he was served his conscription notice. Has now fled the country and done a 180 on his outlook.

[FakeNoose]

17. Interesting, he's old enough that he relates to the old USSR regime

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

He's entirely correct that Putin is the OPPOSITE of communism. I wonder how many Russians actually get that?

[Amishman]

20. He offered an interesting perspective even as a pro-Russian cheer leader

I've been overdosing on schadenfreude at his recent panic after the conscription notice.

[GoodRaisin]

19. That's the way I infer it.

Kind of like Republican voters in the U.S. that have health care through their jobs and “don’t want to pay for someone else’s health care” until they lose their job and health care and suddenly start voting for Democrats.

[Brainfodder]

22. If you were in Russia and asked, would you have said you didn't support the war?

I am OK then, with them making a break for it.

[doc03]

23. Just like in this country the ones with conections

can still back the war and not worry about serving. Like me I somehow passed the physical at 230 pounds and 5'10". While the mayor's son High School football jock failed his physical.

[yardwork]

25. The exodus implies that Russian support for the war was fragile.

Fervent but fragile, perhaps. One wonders how many MAGATs would cut and run if they were asked to put their lives on the line for their supposed beliefs. (Jan 6 doesn't count.) It's easy to be a keyboard warrior when somebody else is doing the fighting.