After we escaped Russia through Estonia late last month, amid Putin’s Ukrainian war mobilization and the crazy rush for the borders that was going on at the time, we thought we’d head to Rome and finally relax a bit. But that was not in the cards. Turned out the next part of our cursed trip involved all of us catching Covid.
Evgenia and I were supposed to record this episode more than ten days ago — before we got sick and right after Putin announced the annexation of four new territories in a big speech. Well, we’re still sick. But we decided to record the episode anyway.
In it we discuss getting Covid while traveling but mostly we talk about Putin’s speech and the purge that he’s unleashing on Russian society. One thing that’s superficially obvious from watching the annexation announcement: No one in the audience seems happy or elated. What should be a moment of triumph for Putin — this is the start of a new reunited Russian civilization, after all! — feels more like a funeral. Putin’s New Founding Fathers and Mothers aren’t celebrating. They’re depressed.
—Yasha
Want to know more? Check out previous episodes of The Russians.
