Ukraine has been trying to bring the war to Russia.
asserted
Ukraine → try → Russia
More Russians are beginning to feel it
Summer was marked by fuel shortages and drone attacks on warehouses
As Kyiv reeled Tuesday from another night of deadly strikes by ballistic missiles and jet-powered drones, Russia's state-controlled media didn't report on the damaged highrise buildings or the cars that were set ablaze.
asserted
that → begin → buildings
Instead, Russian broadcasters reported that several military facilities in Ukraine had been successfully targeted, while at home, the country's air defences had intercepted more than 380 Ukrainian drones.
asserted
defences → report → drones
But Russia's own vulnerability has become harder to conceal.
asserted
vulnerability → become → ?
Local officials reported that two civilians were killed in Russia during the overnight strikes.
asserted
civilians → report → strikes
And there are reports in the country's media that Moscow plans to allow postal workers to arm themselves with anti-drone weapons.
asserted
workers → be → weapons
The measures are another sign of how Ukraine's expanding drone campaign is bringing the war deeper into Russian territory — and increasingly into the lives of ordinary Russians.
asserted
campaign → expand → Russians
A summer of strikes
For nearly five years, the Kremlin has tried to shield much of the population from the realities of its full-scale war against Ukraine, as well as its economic consequences.
asserted
Kremlin → try → Ukraine
"After the active drone raids on Russia — on Moscow and the Moscow region in particular — anxiety has increased greatly," said Tatiana, 66, who wanted to be identified only by her first name.
asserted
who → increase → name
"We were driving to the dacha with the children and saw a huge column of smoke.
asserted
We → drive → smoke
Naturally, that also causes fear."
asserted
that → cause → fear
Russia reports large-scale Ukrainian drone attack across 12 regions
Ukraine hits Moscow oil refinery again, part of massive drone wave inside Russia
Tatiana, like others CBC News spoke with for this story, communicated through voice memos sent on a messaging app.
asserted
News → report → app
No one wanted to give their last names for fear of being punished for speaking to foreign media about the war.
asserted
one → want → war
She said she sometimes lies to her grandchildren when they wake up at night because of the noise, telling them it is construction work because she does not want them to be afraid.
asserted
them → say → them
At her dacha, a country home, she said people talk about the fear caused by the buzzing of drones overhead.
asserted
people → say → drones
Ukrainian attacks on refineries and energy facilities have contributed to a fuel shortage in Russia, leading to long lines at gas stations, fuel rationing and public frustration.
asserted
attacks → contribute → stations
Videos posted on social media showed fights and arguments breaking out at some stations.
asserted
fights → post → stations
The government has taken steps to stabilize supplies, including importing fuel from countries such as India.
asserted
government → take → India
It's a significant move given that Russia is one of the world's largest oil exporters.
asserted
Russia → give → exporters
The shortage has also helped fuel the popularity of GdeBENZ (Where is the Benzine), an app that directs motorists to gas stations with available fuel.
asserted
that → help → fuel
Measuring the mood
Denis Volkov, director of the Moscow-based research and polling organization Levada Center, said as the fuel crisis intensified earlier in the summer, surveys showed rising anxiety and a decline in approval of the Russian government.
But he said the mood has softened somewhat as fuel supplies have improved.
asserted
supplies → measure → government
Levada’s August survey, published on Thursday, was conducted through video calls with 1,600 people across Russia.
asserted
survey → publish → Russia
About one-quarter said they were experiencing tension and fear, while nearly 60 per cent described themselves as being in a normal mood.
asserted
cent → say → mood
About two-thirds said they had experienced problems with mobile internet access, messaging apps or fuel.
asserted
they → say → access
One-third said the fuel shortage had seriously affected their lives.
asserted
shortage → say → lives
"The main concerns are, of course, economic, but also the overall continuation of hostilities," Volkov said in a phone interview with CBC News from Moscow.
asserted
Volkov → say → Moscow
Ksenia, 41, a single mother who works in the civil service in the Russian capital, said the drones do not frighten her terribly.
asserted
drones → work → her
But she is struggling with rising prices.
asserted
she → struggle → prices
"It feels as though no salary or freelance work is enough to cover expenses anymore," she said in a message to CBC News.
asserted
she → feel → News
Who knows.
asserted
Who → know → ?
The Russian economy is expected to grow by just 0.4 per cent this year, while many non-military sectors are stagnating or shrinking.
asserted
sectors → expect → cent
If Ukraine continues striking Russian targets, including its oil and grain export infrastructure, the country's economic growth could be pushed down further.
uncertain
growth → continue → infrastructure
Last month, Andrei Klepach, chief economist at Russia’s state development bank, lost his job after giving a public speech about the economic problems created by the war.
asserted
Klepach → lose → war
Last week, the Kremlin envoy for international development, Boris Titov, was quoted as saying the Russian economy could go "berserk" if the country continues on a steadfast war footing.
uncertain
country → quote → footing
In August, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree allowing the government to take control of infrastructure deemed critical if it is considered inadequately protected from drone attacks.
asserted
it → sign → attacks
Sanctioned but standing: Russians see their prices rise as Trump and Putin head to Alaska
Wildberries is the Amazon of Russia.
asserted
Wildberries → sanction → Russia
Ukraine is trying to destroy it
"
asserted
Ukraine → try → it
The country is spiralling into a terrifying abyss.
asserted
country → spiral → abyss
Especially when you look at the economic results of the last five years, it makes you want to cry," said Vitaliy, 40, a businessman from Noginsk, about 40 kilometres east of Moscow.
asserted
Vitaliy → look → Moscow
Vitaliy runs a business supplying spare parts to chemical plants.
asserted
Vitaliy → run → plants
…and 9 more, not listed.
The Aporia
