Russian Wartime Migrants: Matching Political Demand with Supply

Abstract

Two and a half years in, Russia's unprovoked military aggression against Ukraine continues to inflict deep wounds on Russian civil society, affecting both those who remain in the country and those who have fled to Central Asia, the South Caucasus, and select (primarily visa-free) European countries. Drawing on 390 semi-structured interviews with Russian migrants across six countries, this article reveals a strong demand for collective action and reconciliation among the various factions of the Russian opposition in exile. It also highlights migrants' diverging political alignments, which are influenced by their individual trajectories and visions for Russia's future. A common complaint among respondents is opposition groups' lack of both a clear vision for Russia's future and the tools to achieve it.