Why Some Russians Want To Leave Homeland Amid Ukraine War

Web Desk — Russian authorities continue to arrest protesters and block independent news outlets as the war against Ukraine rages on.

On Friday, Putin signed a bill into law that criminalizes the intentional spreading of what Moscow deems to be “fake” reports. Anyone convicted would face up to 15 years in prison.

A 32-year old Vladislav Slepyshev has flown to Tashkent, the capital city of Uzbekistan, to avoid being arrested by the authorities.

On his social media, Vladislav Slepyshev can be seen speaking out against his country’s president, Vladimir Putin. In his camera roll, you’d find photos of him protesting the war against Ukraine on the streets of downtown Moscow.

“I couldn’t keep silent, so I decided I’m going to go,” Slepyshev said.

Despite the tough laws in place, Russians across the country have continued to protest against the invasion of Ukraine. On Sunday alone, protests took place in dozens of cities across the country, including in Siberia and St. Petersburg.

As of Sunday, less than two weeks after the war began, Russian forces stepped up shelling of cities in Ukraine’s center, north and south, a Ukrainian official said. A second attempt to evacuate besieged civilians collapsed.

With the Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy urging his people to take to the streets and fight, Russian President Vladimir Putin shifted blame for the war to Ukraine, saying Moscow’s invasion could be halted “only if Kyiv ceases hostilities.”

Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudueau arrived in Europe on Sunday to meet with allies and discuss the intensifying war in Ukraine.

On Monday, Ukraine plans to ask the United Nations’ top court to issue an emergency ruling requiring Russia to stop its invasion, arguing that Moscow’s justification for the attack is based on a faulty interpretation of genocide law.