00:00In the snowy streets of Moscow, few people are willing to respond to this journalist's question.
00:06What do you think about the war in Ukraine?
00:10No, thank you.
00:11I know what you want to hear, but I can't talk about it.
00:14I just want to ask.
00:15We stand with our country. We support each other.
00:19Russia is dealing with the after-effects of four years of conflict,
00:23which the Kremlin still describes as a special operation.
00:28At the start, yes, we were scared, but now we're used to it.
00:33It doesn't affect you at all?
00:36No.
00:37Few Moscow residents want to discuss the number of Russian soldiers who've died,
00:42a figure the UN places between 250,000 and 1.2 million.
00:47In large towns and cities, residents are more sheltered from the effects of the war than in more remote areas.
00:55It's difficult. A lot of regions are suffering. We try to put ourselves in their place.
01:03Despite the conflict, Russia saw growth of 1% in 2025.
01:08But for the past four years, inflation and Western sanctions have taken a toll on Russia's economy.
01:14Denis Magisov is a baker working near Moscow.
01:17The government listened to us and the president listened.
01:20We're pleased that he mentioned us again at the economic meeting,
01:23us and all small businesses in general. We're delighted.
01:25A few months earlier, his stance was far less positive
01:30when he appeared on a television program with Vladimir Putin.
01:34The situation is difficult and we're not optimistic about the future.
01:38Many businesses will close or turn to the black market.
01:41Maria is Ukrainian. She's lived in Russia for 20 years.
01:46She chose to stay even after the war broke out,
01:49a decision that's alienated her from her family.
01:54Everyone has blocked me, erased me from their lives.
01:57Neither my friends nor my family. No one wants to talk to me.
02:02Everyone believes I'm a traitor.
02:05Since invading Ukraine, Vladimir Putin's popularity ratings have appeared to remain high.
02:11The Russian leader has kept up an intensive communications campaign,
02:15giving out military honours, laying wreaths and giving speeches in front of war widows.
02:21millimeters.
02:21weniger
02:23modest
02:23Everything
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