Hey there. I'm back, not because the tough times are over, but because I've realized they won't be anytime soon. Sorry to drop in with such pessimism, but it's hard to look for silver linings when my loved ones are under fire. I'm writing this to make my stance clear. It's crucial for me to emphasize this as I continue my public activity. Many of you know I used to live in Russia. On February 24, 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine. My closest people live in Ukraine—my friends, who are family to me.
Seeing my loved ones hiding in shelters, witnessing it become their reality, is horrifying. They're facing unimaginable chaos. And no amount of war reparations will make up for the years lost to it. I've always believed, and still do, that there's nothing scarier than war. Russia had no grounds to attack Ukraine. All of Russia's justifications are pure BS. I hold onto deep hope for a swift end to the war and the return of all annexed and occupied territories, including Crimea, under Ukraine's sovereignty.
Regardless of how things play out, I'm not going back to Russia. I can't work from Russia because Russia labeled LGBT as an extremist organization. Many of you might be thinking, "What nonsense, what organization?" But that's the wording. The Russian government equates LGBT and affiliation with it to ISIS and other terrorist organizations. That should tell you a lot. Plus, there's been a surge in nationalism and racism. Many other repressive laws have been passed, directly impacting me. This is one of the reasons I'm leaving Russia. The first and foremost reason, of course, is the war Russia started. And of course, Glory to Ukraine!
