Janet Jalil

In World War II, we knew what we were fighting for, Irina says.

I'm not sure what we're fighting for now.

Over the last four years, the Russian authorities have come up with all kinds of answers to that question.

President Putin has spoken of denazifying Ukraine, demilitarizing it.

Russian officials talk variously about defending Russian speakers there, reclaiming historical Russian land.

about halting NATO expansion and about protecting Russia itself from alleged Western plots to destroy it.

Mixed messaging.

In an apartment block across town, it's proving difficult and complicated to deal with a leaking pipe.

In the lobby entrance, there's ice on the floor and on the walls, and the lifts stop working.

Ivan Pavlovich complains to me about the water that's trickling down and about his utility bills that are going up.

He concedes that life would be easier without a war on.

But... If I were younger, I'd go and fight, Ivan declares.

The special military operation is excellent.

It's just that prices keep rising.

Pensions go up, but then prices go up even more.

So what do I gain?

Nothing.

In the lobby, the Cold War has begun.

Someone is breaking up the ice and disposing of it outside.

Not everyone in Russia joins the dots and connects their social and economic problems with a costly war on Ukraine.