After three years of war in Ukraine, many Russians take refuge in an 'inner black box'

We must not forget, that the war still continues every single day, with large-scale attacks, more killings of civilians, destruction of homes and critical infrastructure and new displacement happening,

Elisabeth Haslund, UNHCR representative for Ukraine, told The Independent

The degree of anxiety for the present and the future has grown a lot. I don't understand how to have and raise children under this regime,

says a woman living in the Moscow area, who bravely spoke to the Daily Express under condition of anonymity

The central bank overnight lending rate is 21%, which is insane,

Barros adds

When he was sent there, he had no idea he would have to perform actual surgical procedures."

She tells the Express

I won't say that our life has somehow worsened but we feel that now we can't save money for holidays or anything else to the extent that we could afford before, provided we have our own place, for which we don't have to pay mortgage or rent, and we don't eat in restaurants."

She continues

Ordinary people like us just want all of this not to be happening,

she adds

First, there is a strong concern for male relatives and the need to constantly monitor how to protect them from conscription,

she says

Ekaterina Schulmannrussian political scientist

There will be universal joy – not because Russia defeated anyone, but because the war has stopped,

said Ekaterina Schulmann, a Russian sociologist based in Berlin

Maria Zakharovarussian foreign ministry spokesperson

What to do with these traitors and how to handle them should and will be decided by professionals across all branches of power,I am confident that domestic companies will be guaranteed that they will not be traded for French rags and Italian slippers,

Maria Zakharova, Russia’s foreign ministry spokesperson wrote on Telegram

If western firms return, it would mean that money has trumped all their talk of so-called liberal values. They promised we would be a pariah for invading Ukraine, but in reality, everyone just chases profits,

one well-connected Russian business in Moscow told the Observer

I think the most important thing is that the war is ending and people will stop dying,

said Alexandra, a Russian public relations consultant who opposed the war but kept her views hidden out of fear of prosecution in Moscow

Vladimir Putinrussian President

Of course, they will be able to return to Moscow and resume competition with Russian manufacturers.”

Dmitry Peskov, Putin’s longtime spokesperson, acknowledged last week the discussions about the return of foreign businesses, stating

But no lessons will be learned from this war if it ends in Putin’s favour,

she added

Our manufacturers must know their contribution to the Special Military Operation will not be betrayed,

she added, using Russia’s official term for war in Ukraine

Of course, they want to return so they can profit from it,

he said

I told them that I want the equivalent, like $500 billion of rare earth, and they’ve essentially agreed to do that, so at least we don’t feel stupid. Otherwise we’re stupid. I said to them, we have to get something. We can’t continue to pay this money,

Trump told Fox News earlier this month

Russia is not winning in Ukraine. They’re not losing but they’re just not winning,

says Kallas, a senior officer in a specialist brigade which deploys across much of the 1,300km front line

Last summer the price of eggs jumped by 42 per cent, bananas by 48 per cent, tomatoes by 39.5 per cent and potatoes by 25 per cent. The Russian ruble has lost over half of its value since Putin first invaded Crimea in 2014, and over $600bn of the Kremlin’s foreign currency reserves have been frozen in Western banks.”

And earlier this week Russian expert and author Owen Matthews wrote in The Independent

We’re fed up with fighting but there will have been no point if we give into Putin now, as Trump wants us to. So, we’ll fight on whatever anyone tells us to do,

a senior officer in Ukraine says

I really hope, as a Ukrainian, that what Trump saying publicly now is to cloud the eyes of the Russians,

he says