As someone from Finland currently serving in the Ukrainian army, I wanted to share my opinion on the Russian mindset.
Alright, it’s pretty late, but I still decided to sit down and record this video. I’m currently on a bit of a video-making spree, and I don’t want to stop. I finally did it: I started a YouTube channel, and I just hit 100 subscribers. Thank you so much to everyone who took the time to subscribe and leave a comment. I’ve received some really kind messages, even from people who don’t agree with me.
So, let’s get into the topic.
I’m a volunteer currently fighting for Ukraine. I’m originally from Finland. I began by volunteering in the Finnish army, then I came here, and now my entire life revolves around Ukraine—talking about it, fighting for it, and supporting it however I can.
What I want to talk about today is how I feel about Russians. Do I believe all Russians are bad? Do I hate them? That’s what I want to explore.
I didn’t really know how to start, but earlier I was watching a YouTube video by someone named Danil Orin, whose channel is called Danil_420. He travels around Russia interviewing people, asking them questions about Finland’s wars with Russia, and about the current war in Ukraine. He even shows them pictures of what’s happening here. Watching his content made me reflect on my own perspective about Russians.
One thing I definitely noticed in those videos is how afraid Russians seem to be when it comes to speaking the truth.
So here’s my take: I do not believe that all Russians are bad. I’ve had Russian friends. I know people from Russia personally. Some of my favorite artists are Russian. Interestingly, when the war began, some of those same artists came to Ukraine and are now fighting for this country.
I’ve never been to Russia, and I probably never will. After everything I’ve done fighting for Ukraine, there’s no chance I could go there. They would likely want me dead. Funny enough, I was just thinking today that it would be interesting to sneak in and see how things really are, but of course, I would never go. I don’t want to support that country in any way. Every penny spent there could potentially contribute to the bombing of not just military targets, but children and civilians here in Ukraine—or even in Finland or another European country. Only time will tell.
On an individual level, I don’t have anything against Russian people. What I do take issue with are those who support the Russian government. But even that situation is complex.
Many Russians—both in and outside of Russia—consume only Russian state media. They believe everything they are told. If there’s one thing Russia excels at, it’s manipulation. The Russian government is incredibly good at convincing people that what they are doing is justified and morally acceptable.
Pro-Russian individuals often fail to understand the perspectives of people from Finland, Ukraine, Poland, or other neighboring countries. They focus solely on their national identity, without considering how their country’s actions are perceived by others. Many are simply brainwashed. Others might want to believe the propaganda because it’s easier than facing the truth. After all, who wants to live with the knowledge that their country is bombing children?
It’s extremely difficult to speak freely in Russia. Social media platforms that allow people from other countries to speak openly have been banned. Some people use VPNs to access sites like Instagram, but overall, the media is tightly controlled by the government.
Because of this, I can’t be fully angry at those who have been manipulated by propaganda. Still, it’s frustrating when I hear them repeating the government’s lies. Then there’s the group that does know what’s going on and supports it anyway. These people are driven by imperialistic ideals and openly endorse what’s happening in Ukraine.
Let me be honest: I’ve seen images of dead children here. And I’ve seen Russians celebrating it. I’ve seen them laughing at Ukrainian civilians who have lost their limbs. Yes, dark humor exists in the military, but there’s a difference. It’s one thing to make dark jokes while defending your homeland. It’s another to mock innocent people in a war they didn’t choose. That’s disgusting. There is no justification for it.
So, I’ve talked about the brainwashing, the media control, and the manipulation. There’s another group of people in Russia who simply don’t understand what’s going on. They live in poor towns, they need money, and their sons get sent to the military just to support the family. They’re proud of their sons for serving, without realizing the bigger picture. Many people view the military only in terms of national pride—they don’t think beyond that.
If there are any Russians watching this, I want to say: you shouldn’t hate yourselves. And I don’t think people should hate you, either—unless you actively support what’s happening in Ukraine.
I truly wish the Russian people would become less passive. I don’t know how realistic that is, but I still hope that one day, Russians will stand up to their government. Because that government doesn’t care about you. They’re not looking out for your well-being. Maybe things are better if you live in Moscow, but for most people, life is tough—and it’s getting worse.
Russia isn’t just hurting Ukraine; it’s hurting itself. It’s spending money that could improve the lives of its own people on killing innocent civilians. Recently, the city of Sumy was attacked. Over 100 people were wounded, many were killed, including children—just civilians going to church. This is what your government is doing with its resources.
Meanwhile, in many towns across Russia, people live in poverty. Families send their sons to war just to afford something like a new TV. It’s horrible.
Still, I don’t think Russians should hate themselves. I think they should love themselves enough — and love their country enough — to try to make it better.
There are even Russian soldiers who have come to fight for Ukraine. I’m not entirely sure that’s the best path, but I respect it. If you’re fighting for Ukraine, I’m grateful to have you by our side.
In the end, I hope the Russian people will rise, demand freedom of speech, and push for real change. Right now, Russia is not a happy country. It’s one of the most corrupt nations in the world. Maybe if the people fixed their own country, they wouldn’t feel the need to attack others just to “get a piece of the cake,” so to speak.
That’s about all I have to say for this video. I might make another one on this topic.
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