Newbury woman 'embarrassed' by being Russian because of Ukraine invasion

A Russian woman living in Newbury who recently returned from seeing her family in her home country has revealed her ‘embarrassment’ at being Russian.

Maria, a 43-year-old teaching assistant, has been living in the UK for many years and has been actively speaking out against the Russian invasion of Ukraine on social media.

She returned to Russia with her children and some British friends during half term before the invasion began, but said the group found it difficult to return to the UK.

Maria, who doesn’t want her surname to be revealed for fear of her family’s safety in Russia, said: “I hate myself for being Russian. I’m not protecting myself from that. I’m very, very terribly sorry for what is happening.”

She has even considered going to the Russian embassy and relinquishing her citizenship due to current events.

On returning from her recent trip to visit family she said: “By the end of our amazing time there, we were stuck. Things went too fast from the start of the war to cancelling flights, bank cards etc.”

After they were denied entry onto an international train, they made their way by public transport to the Finnish border but struggled to get into the country due to their lack of visas and post-Brexit complications.

Armed guards even entered their bus during the trip to the border.

The group managed to get through border control after an hour of waiting, and then got on a direct flight back to the UK.

She said: “Being Russian is so embarrassing. The worst thing is that my relatives - not all of them, but I would say most of them - support what’s going on and they think that Russians are helping. So that is hurting even more.”

Her family are divided over their views on the invasion - her father supports Putin and believes Russia is helping Ukraine, while her mother and brother are against Putin’s regime but are afraid to speak out, particularly her brother who has a young family, for fear of being persecuted and imprisoned.

Maria also said: “The most painful thing is that more than a half of Russian people believe that Putin is doing the right thing and their understanding is that Russia is helping Ukraine and this includes my own dad, who is the most loving and caring person I have ever known.

“I don’t understand how Russian TV makes people so blind and so protective of their president. It hurts, it is confusing, and it breaks my relationship with my friends and relatives.”

Maria has offered her services as a Russian/Ukrainian to English interpreter to help Ukraine’s efforts, and has even considered travelling to the country if needed.

She also fears she may face imprisonment if she ever returns to Russia, as she has been very vocal against the invasion on the Russian social media platform VK.

She said: “I understand I can be imprisoned just because I call the war ‘the war’. I can be arrested as soon I cross the border to Russia, that’s how serious things are.

“Talking against this war can put me in prison for up to 15 years according to a new Russian law, but I won’t stop.

“I am tired of fear. The only thing which makes me sad is that I won’t be visiting Russia again any time soon, not until this madness stops, which may be in many, many years.”

Maria studied in England after taking part in a bridge programme between Saint Petersburg University and Kingston University in London.

She decided to remain in the UK after meeting her now ex-husband and having children.