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Russian troops invaded Ukraine on February 24. Since then, Russian officials have framed this attack a "special military operation" -- although it is in fact a full-scale war (you can read the latest news about it here). In light of these events, we decided to take a look back on what Vladimir Putin has said about war during his 22 years in power. Meduza shares highlights from the Russian leader's anti-war rhetoric here.

Russian troops invaded Ukraine on February 24. Since then, Russian officials have framed this attack a "special military operation" -- although it is in fact a full-scale war (you can read the latest news about it here). In light of these events, we decided to take a look back on what Vladimir Putin has said about war during his 22 years in power. Meduza shares highlights from the Russian leader's anti-war rhetoric here.

On February 24, Russia began a war with Ukraine. On that same day, protests broke out all over Russia. It is difficult to call them mass demonstrations in any real sense, although ultimately almost 6,500 people were arrested (in Russia, street gatherings of this type are practically forbidden, with the authorities persecuting even individuals who picket alone). Sociologist Grigory Yudin, too, was arrested and ended up hospitalized following an anti-war protest in Moscow. Meduza special correspondent Svetlana Reiter discussed with Yudin why it doesn't make sense to call protests in Russia "small" -- and why he thinks scholars have to take a principled stand.

On February 24, Russia began a war with Ukraine. On that same day, protests broke out all over Russia. It is difficult to call them mass demonstrations in any real sense, although ultimately almost 6,500 people were arrested (in Russia, street gatherings of this type are practically forbidden, with the authorities persecuting even individuals who picket alone). Sociologist Grigory Yudin, too, was arrested and ended up hospitalized following an anti-war protest in Moscow. Meduza special correspondent Svetlana Reiter discussed with Yudin why it doesn't make sense to call protests in Russia "small" -- and why he thinks scholars have to take a principled stand.

War came to Ukraine's Donbas region in the spring of 2014, after some residents in the country's east refused to accept the revolutionary change of power in Kyiv. In April of that year, pro-Russian protesters in Donetsk, Luhansk, and Kharkiv declared the formation of "people's republics" independent from Ukraine. Kyiv quickly regained control of Kharkiv, but a full-fledged war broke out in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, with Russia providing explicit and tacit support to the "people's republics" -- including in the form of material and military aid. The "hot" phase of the conflict formally ended with the signing of the Minsk agreements in February 2015, although clashes and shelling continued. For seven years thereafter, the conflict seemed "frozen" -- a common phenomenon in global politics. Throughout this period, American photographer Brendan Hoffman captured both civilians and combatants who found themselves on different sides of the conflict. Meduza shares his snapshots here.

We're publishing this text while there's still time for us to mark the beginning of yet another historic development: Russia has officially introduced state censorship. What do we mean by "still time"? Within a few days, maybe even today, it is possible that there will be no independent media left in Russia. Very soon, it's possible that anyone in Russia seeking information from the "enemy voices" of independent sources will need to make the same efforts as those who lived behind the Iron Curtain.

On the morning of February 24, Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation," saying its purpose was the liberation of the self-declared Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics and the "de-Nazification" and "demilitarization" of Ukraine. Russia then sent its troops into Ukraine. Fighting in the vicinity of Kyiv, Kharkiv, Mariupol, and other cities has continued for several days. People are hiding in shelters, subway stations, and underground parking garages. Others are fleeing to neighboring countries -- the United Nations says more than 1 million refugees have now left Ukraine. These photos were taken during the seventh day of the war.

How did this war with Ukraine even become a possibility? According to Meduza's Ideas editor, Maxim Trudolyubov, the answer to this question can be found in the political alternate "reality" developed in Russia in recent years on the basis of lies, manipulation, and the production of fakes. This "reality" had seemed so crudely constructed that it was impossible to imagine anyone in charge (especially those who created it) to believe it seriously. As it turns out, however, somebody does believe it. His name is Vladimir Putin.

War came to Ukraine's Donbas region in the spring of 2014, after some residents in the country's east refused to accept the revolutionary change of power in Kyiv. In April of that year, pro-Russian protesters in Donetsk, Luhansk, and Kharkiv declared the formation of "people's republics" independent from Ukraine. Kyiv quickly regained control of Kharkiv, but a full-fledged war broke out in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, with Russia providing explicit and tacit support to the "people's republics" -- including in the form of material and military aid. The "hot" phase of the conflict formally ended with the signing of the Minsk agreements in February 2015, although clashes and shelling continued. For seven years thereafter, the conflict seemed "frozen" -- a common phenomenon in global politics. Throughout this period, American photographer Brendan Hoffman captured both civilians and combatants who found themselves on different sides of the conflict. Meduza shares his snapshots here.

We're publishing this text while there's still time for us to mark the beginning of yet another historic development: Russia has officially introduced state censorship. What do we mean by "still time"? Within a few days, maybe even today, it is possible that there will be no independent media left in Russia. Very soon, it's possible that anyone in Russia seeking information from the "enemy voices" of independent sources will need to make the same efforts as those who lived behind the Iron Curtain.