(Moscow) – A wave of anti-war protests is spreading across Russian regions as citizens risk arrest, imprisonment and violence to oppose the war in Ukraine and the regime of the Russian dictator. The underground resistance movement known as Atesh has reported a rise in grassroots anti-Kremlin activity, including the distribution of leaflets and public acts of defiance.
Atesh stated that activists from the Civil Force group have conducted a bold and widespread campaign across Russia, distributing anti-war and anti-Putin leaflets in cities from Leningrad to Sverdlovsk and across national republics. Locations where these messages have appeared include Elista, Kostroma, Shlisselburg, Yekaterinburg and Suvorov. In total, more than 20 people have already made contact with the resistance movement offering support.
The highest levels of activism have been recorded in the Tula region and Kalmykia, where dozens of citizens have openly submitted appeals declaring their opposition to the Kremlin’s war and their commitment to helping end the violence. The Atesh group declared, “Each new leaflet is a step towards the destruction of the Kremlin dictatorship. The more widely the truth is spread, the faster we will break the system of violence.”
Since Russia launched its full invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Kremlin has enacted strict war censorship laws. These laws punish even peaceful dissent with severe consequences. Calling the invasion a “war” instead of the Kremlin-approved term “special military operation” can land someone in prison for up to 15 years. Labelling Russia’s war crimes or targeting of civilians as such has also been declared illegal, with critics accused of spreading “fake news” or “discrediting” the Russian Armed Forces.
Under these oppressive rules, thousands of citizens have been charged with serious offences for peaceful protest. Charges have ranged from “incitement of hatred” to “violence against police”, and in some cases, even “treason”. Numerous activists and journalists are already serving long prison terms simply for speaking out against the war.
This legal crackdown has forced much of Russia’s civil society, independent journalism and opposition movements into exile or hiding.
