The Russians leaving Russia for Finland

[Jilly_in_VA]

At Vaalimaa, Finland's border crossing with Russia - 120 miles east of Helsinki - buses and cars stop for passport and customs checks. These aren't Ukrainians, they're Russians, and although the flow isn't heavy, it is constant.

Some people are anxious to get out of Russia because there has been a persistent rumour that President Vladimir Putin's government might soon introduce martial law to deal with demonstrations against the invasion of Ukraine.

With flights to Europe halted, the only way out of the country is by car - crossing this border - or by train.

We spoke to one young Russian woman who was leaving for the West - one of the lucky ones who had an EU visa before the sanctions were announced. She was in despair at what has been happening.

"People in Ukraine are our people - our family," she said. "We shouldn't be killing them." Would she think of going back, I asked? "Not while our dreadful government is there. It is so, so sad."

She said most Russians don't want this war, but they risk going to jail if they try to stand up to Putin.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-60624500
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I have a dear friend who got out of Russia in the first exodus (1990s). I know what she thinks.

[Jilly_in_VA]

6. I don't think so, my dear

You don't have much of a grasp on Russian history if that's what you think. There have always been "Russians" in Ukraine. The borders have been fluid throughout history and only really set since Ukraine became its own country, independent of the USSR, in the 1990s. Ukrainians speak their own language, which is a form of Russian, a dialect if you will, but there have been Russian people living there, particularly in the eastern part and some in the southern part, since forever. Most Ukrainians these days actually speak both languages. Please read some history of the area.

[empedocles]

2. TY

[dalton99a]

4. NEXT: Russia launches limited military operation to protect Russians in Finland

[OAITW r.2.0]

5. That's what concerns me, too.

And how many of these refugee's are Russian infiltrators, bent on acts of sabotage?

[Jilly_in_VA]

7. I suspect that most of them

just want to GTFO of Russia while they can. Most Russian citizens would like to be anywhere else about now. They are not rich, they are not politically motivated to support the war, they are scared and see an opening for an exit.

[Jilly_in_VA]

11. We have a LOT of Russians where I live

A LOT. They bailed out in the last exodus and since. Many of them were Baptists or Mennonites. There is a large Russian Baptist church in Bridgewater, about 20 miles south of here, and a large Russian presence in one of the bigger Mennonite churches southeast of where my house is. Other Russians are just in the community. Some are Jewish, like my dear friend (who happens to live in Raleigh, NC, but that's another story), and others are nothing in particular. We also have Ukrainians. And nobody likes Putin. You can take that to the bank.

[OAITW r.2.0]

14. Just to clarify my post.

I believe the vast amount of Russians are peace loving and don't want to stick around for Putin's Plan. Whatever that might be.

But you know that this opens up Putin's opportunity to plant agents in the West that will wage a clandestine war. Particularly in the Baltic States and No. Europe.

[uponit7771]

13. +1, but with what? Literally 50% minimum of their equipment is in UKR being towed away by

... UKR farm tractors.