The Russian rouble has plunged to record lows, civilians have been blocked from withdrawing more than $10,000 until September, and prices of plane tickets are skyrocketing, even if Viktor can find a country that will take him in. His mother Kira*, an economist living 70km outside Moscow, is trying to raise funds to help him leave Russia (she will stay to look after her elderly mother), but economic sanctions have made this very difficult.

But he still fears for his safety and survival if he cannot find a job. He’s assures me he’ll be okay - he has somewhere to live and is far safer than his friends and peers over the border in Ukraine. Like many liberal Russian youths, Viktor is now unemployed, losing money and worried about his future.

Another 350 individuals and entities added to UK’s Russian sanctions list.

The Russians risking everything to protest Vladimir Putin’s war.

Russia-Ukraine war news LIVE: Two thousand civilian vehicles rush to flee Mariupol, Ukrainian officials say.Within a matter of days, his company has had to close in the wake of Western economic sanctions on Russia his uncle’s family and most of his friends have fled the country and soldiers are roaming the streets, ready to arrest any civilians who protest against Putin’s so-called “special military operation”, as the brave TV editor Marina Ovsyannikova did on Russian state TV on Monday night. New West End Company BRANDPOST | PAID CONTENTīut since his country invaded Ukraine last month, life for ordinary Russians like Viktor has changed.

Russian telegram