War Through the Eyes of Meduza Readers. Today We Are Publishing a Letter From Sergei in Russia

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War. What is happening on day 1535 Today at midnight Moscow time, the two-day “ceasefire” that the Russian Defense Ministry had earlier announced unilaterally came into effect. The ministry demanded in ultimatum form that Ukraine join it…

War through the eyes of Meduza readers. Today we are publishing a letter from Sergei in Russia

In 2022, I left the Russian Federation, lived abroad for a year, and returned in 2023. I came back because of family circumstances. I am 45 years old, I have a family, a child. Elderly parents. I was unable to settle in Europe; the heavily advertised information that Germany has a shortage of IT specialists turned out not to be entirely true. For mid-level positions, German is required everywhere, and after taxes you are left with less than I have in Russia.

At the same time, aside from the mere fact of living in Germany, you get nothing. Problems with doctors, bureaucracy (waiting more than six months to receive a residence permit), the impossibility of switching to another type of visa despite a high salary, and from that the problem of getting visas for my wife and child. The difficulty of getting from Germany to Russia on the one hand, and on the other, the hostile attitude of refugees from Ukraine (not all, but many). And in general, understanding how hopeless such a life is for a child puts an end to the move.

After the trip, my attitude toward the war changed to indifference. And after the recent drone strikes on the Urals, to anger. Unexpectedly many acquaintances expressed approval of my return, and I also learned that many people in my social circle had encountered Ukrainian scammers.

Now I work calmly, regularly donate to collections for beyond the ribbon, and help as much as I can refugees from the border territories, those who have lost their homes. I understand that the situation is unwinnable for us, but there is no way out.

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