Russia’s intentions are ever more ominous

Lately, I’ve been feeling the need to be thoughtful about Ukraine-Russia-related stories. So many bloggers these days suddenly understand the six scenarios of how the war in Ukraine will or will not end; how a nuclear war might play out; what Putin’s exact plan in Ukraine is; how Russia failed with its war; or how it didn’t fail — how Putin has already won over the West, apparently. There are many opportunistic stories. Opportunism and integrity are not always friends; neither are opportunism and expertise.

I have a complicated relationship with writing about Russia.

I left the country in 2013. While I have fellow immigrant friends and acquaintances who’ve stayed vocal about Russia’s affairs, years ago I decided to stay quiet. I felt I’d lost the moral right to comment — out of California — on Russia’s internal affairs. I have a draft memoir going about my experiences in Russia but that’s different.

But Ukraine felt different. It truly shocked me. As a Russian with a lot of Ukrainian blood, I couldn’t imagine, in my worst nightmare, that Russia would attack its brotherly nation. I have relatives and friends in Ukraine, from Ukraine. I feel forever sorry for Russia’s aggression.

As I continue to observe the war, much of my mental focus remains on Russia. I continue to be perplexed about the apparent overwhelming support for the war in Russia itself. I’m thousands of miles away but my conversations with relatives and friends confirm unmistakenly — there is a lot of…