Konstantin Pinaev, a Russian organiser of the Ukrainian Humanitarian Aid Appeal, talks to Islington Now about how the Russian community has responded to this crisis.
Why did you start the Ukraine appeal?
“I think for the first few days, you sort of go through stages, where you read the news, you try to make sure all your friends are safe and then you go to protest. You have a lot of energy, a lot of emotions, so I was trying to see if I can channel this into something useful. I was waiting for someone to set up a centre where I could apply my time. And then I realised – if no one does, it should be me?”
How has the Russian community responded?
“The Russian community based in London, they’re all very much against this. A lot of Russians feel very guilty. And even though Russians who are here, they never voted for Putin, they’re here because of Putin, they still feel a responsibility for their country.”
Have you experienced any anti-Russian hostility?
“Not in London, not offline, but online: definitely. There’s a lot of tension. Think of it as like the Brexit discussions but multiplied by 100. Brexit was not like a real war; this is real war and tensions are high. But it’s easy to ignore, you know, we’re doing the right thing.”
How will you continue to support Ukrainians?
“I think there will be a flood of people coming. Mostly Ukrainians, but some Russians. So there will probably be a lot of people who are confused in London and there will be a lot of work [I think] just to point them in the right direction.”
How are your parents in Moscow?
“They told me that they went to a protest, and then you open the news and you can see people getting beaten up in the streets, being put into prison. You take it for granted here that you can say this and that and you have freedom of speech, but like it’s not like this at all in Russia and it got increasingly worse and worse. So I did ask them to pack their bags just in case and fill up the car.”
What did you do over the weekend?
“I was just literally aching and reading the news. It hurts just because you have so much stuff and like I’m not used to carrying that.? I think it certainly helps that it’s in Europe. Like I keep thinking about Syria and you know, there was so much toxicity around the refugees in Syria possibly because it was a very easy long-term conflict, it dragged on and on and one and people had no idea who was fighting who. With Ukraine, it’s a bit more black and white.”
