Name: After four years of war: War weariness is rising among Russians
Uploaded: 2026-01-10T16:58:49.790Z
Duration: 2 min 36 s
Description: Economic strain and shrinking freedoms fuel fatigue among Russians as the war in Ukraine drags on.

Economic strain and shrinking freedoms fuel fatigue among Russians as the war in Ukraine drags on.

Moscow

Moscow shows little outward evidence of being at war, with daily life largely undisturbed by the ongoing conflict with Ukraine. However, opinion polls and interviews reveal that many residents are experiencing war fatigue, mental health impacts, and uncertainty due to new laws and restrictions on freedoms.

Economic pressures are mounting as a significant portion of Russia's budget is allocated to defense, leading to high inflation and increased taxes. Residents have had to adjust to rising food prices and restricted access to popular apps, while city authorities maintain a sense of normalcy through festive preparations.

After four years of war: War weariness is rising among Russians

You can hardly tell this is the capital of a country at war with its neighbor for the past four years. No air raid sirens, no shelter-in-place signs, no damage. Only a few drones have hit Moscow throughout the conflict. Opinion polls suggest half of Moscow's 13 million residents say they are unaffected by the war in Ukraine. We haven't seen anything here. In other regions, yes, some of my family is affected there. Many things have changed, but we don't want to talk about it. There is a general demoralizing feeling of the war. All the killing, the uncertainty is affecting our mental health. Changes in laws and regulations on security and freedom of speech are feeding that uncertainty. Pull out your phone and you will realize that some of the most popular apps don't work here. Instagram and Facebook, they're banned for extremism. WhatsApp is restricted over terrorism concerns. And if you open a map, it probably won't show you where you are. We are currently over here, and it is showing that we are 10 kilometers away. This is because of so-called GPS spoofing to trick drones. Moscow airports regularly shut down for several hours because of drone threats disrupting flights. Another concern is the cost of the war. A third of Russia's budget goes to defense. Coupled with sanctions, this has led to high inflation and increased taxes. Many people have had to tighten their belts and switch to simpler foods, but even staple products have gone up massively in price. Potatoes have more than doubled. Onions are up 50 percent, and bread, butter and milk are up to 30 percent in the past four years. All we can do is stare in amazement. We feel 100 percent safe. Moscow is protected. Almost everyone we've spoken to said they're hopeful the war will end in 2026. Our plan is to become mothers this year. People give birth even in the midst of war. Moscow City Hall spared no expense preparing the capital for the festive season, perhaps to reinforce a feeling of life as usual, while the war rages elsewhere out of sight. Dmitry Medvedenko, Al Jazeera, Moscow.

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