Still at war: How four Russian women experienced the year Man stabbed in the neck with a knife: Unruly 20-year-old sentenced to 7 years in prison

Artist Maria Thorgevsky: “Prospects for Ukraine, but not for Russia”

Maria Thorgevsky is from St. Petersburg, but has relatives in Ukraine. Relatives from Kiev have been living with her in Switzerland for a year. Last March, when they had been living with her for only a few days, Thorgevsky told how they communicated with local acquaintances by phone from morning to night. It was an emotionally draining situation for all of them. The artist only cried during the first weeks after the outbreak of war.

And today?

“Nothing has changed. There is still war. I watch the BBC every night to keep up to date. However, it is like an old toothache: it hurts, but you harden. The other day I was talking to my daughter about the war. I told her that I felt like I was being pilloried for being Russian, even if it wasn’t my fault.

Last year it was easier for me: there were many ways to actively help. Now I’m retired. When I’m outside, I don’t feel so good anymore. Normally, every two years I teach a course in Russian theater at the university. It may not take place this year because there are too few registrations. I stand for Russian culture, but it is currently frowned upon.

The problem is that Russia is equated with Putin. Many are therefore afraid of the entire culture. I’m in a dilemma myself. I have friends in Russia. Not visiting them is like betrayal. The war is terrible, but Russia is part of me. It hurts me a lot, because I see prospects for Ukraine, but none for Russia. In the end, the Russian people will lose.”

Russian teacher in Switzerland: ‘I got tired of telling stories’

When war broke out a year ago, the Russian teacher couldn’t have a normal lesson – she just talked to her students about what had happened. And she told how the life of her relatives in Russia had become difficult and the criticism of repression and censorship had died down. Now she first says that not much has changed. Her school still exists and she continues to teach the former students. “You don’t want to forget the Russian for when things get better. There were hardly any new students.”

But then she says that as a Russian she is quickly in the line of fire:

“Whatever I say, everyone interprets it as he or she wants. I got tired of telling. Also because at the Russian school I am asked about the war almost every day. Many do not understand the passivity of Russian citizens.

Even here in Switzerland it is difficult to criticize if you want to travel to Russia and visit your family in the future. The subject is delicate. If someone asks me, I give my opinion, but sometimes I just want some distance. I wish it was peace – and everything as before. But of course it will never be the same again. The pandemic has already changed lives, this war will do that even more.”

AB, office worker in Bern: ‘My house will remain my home’

When AB was asked about the war a year ago, her greatest concern was for her family. She was afraid that her children would be attacked because of their nationality. Her son was once asked which side he was on. He replied that as a Russian he was naturally pro-Russia. AB, who works for a service company in Bern, said at the time: “He’s seven years old, how is he supposed to understand what’s going on?” Since then, her son has not been faced with this question and: “He is good friends with a child from Ukraine.” The fact that her family is doing well gives her security.

And yet the situation is difficult for the 38-year-old:

“It still hurts me that the war does not end. It is a great pity that the negotiations have not taken place after a year. I try to convince myself that the war was inevitable, but I am still confused. I I was able to travel to Russia this year. You hardly notice that war is going on there. I only saw one or two posters with patriotic slogans. Everything else was as it always was. It’s like there are two worlds in Russia: one in the media and one in the real world. And in the real world it’s not as bad as you think.”

A year ago she spoke of a certain inner turmoil. About the fact that Putin is sometimes called a maniac, but the people have always trusted him. Today she says:

“My homeland will remain my homeland. I love Russia. However, I believe that Russian propaganda cannot be 100% true. This makes it difficult to talk about it in the family. There are different opinions across the generations. My parents are convinced that everything is going well.

They believe that the situation in Europe is being misrepresented. I am surprised that they fully believe the Russian news, because I actually know that they are very open.”

It is certainly not easy to be in Putin’s shoes. I was afraid that one day he would disappear and just leave the country. But he’s still behind the wheel. I’m glad he’s still here because I respect him. Now I hope he is able to end the war and take wise steps towards a truce and peace.”

Julia Nickel: “I met a lot of great people”

In March a year ago, the German-Russian Julia Nickel said: “Regardless of nationality, everyone should now help each other instead of starting a witch hunt.” She went to the Polish-Ukrainian border as an interpreter to help the refugees. And worried about her sick father in Russia. Today she says:

“It was a turbulent year. I am still on the road for a few hours a week as a translator in my Swiss community.

This week a Ukrainian was able to sign an employment contract. And I went to the doctor with a mother and her ten-month-old child. That’s what’s fun about my job and interesting. I met great people. Some think mainly about life after the war and their return, while others are very eager to learn German.

When I visit her, the war is no longer on TV, but German programs. There are very different people among the Ukrainian refugees. I’m still in touch with 15 families, but only two. Three families returned to Ukraine. Among them was a mother with children who said goodbye to the host family after only two weeks, saying that her vacation was over and she had to go back to work. Such persons shame the whole nation. The two families that are still here cannot return because their homeland is now Russian-occupied territory. They say they would return even if the area remained Russian: “The main thing is that it is quiet, we just want peace.”

It was a very, very difficult year for me personally. My parents, who were in Russia when the war broke out, were able to return to Germany in September. But during the stopover in Istanbul, my mother had a cardiac arrest and had to go to the hospital. She survived, but then my father died of a heart attack. That’s another reason why I haven’t been following the war much lately. There is also a lot of propaganda on both sides. I prefer to receive information directly from my Russian and Ukrainian acquaintances.”