The war in Ukraine isolated the Russian people from the West and initiated invisible humanitarian losses. This article describes the experience of travel in the conditions of bans and restrictions and argues that they are counterproductiveβonly cultural connections can give hope that we can rise above the present division and make a better future together.
The war in Ukraine has changed many things. Almost unreported is the isolation of the Russian people from the West, almost as they had been during the Soviet times, and initiated invisible humanitarian losses.
The loss of travel freedom came after a flight and train ban was introduced, and the EU countries blocked transit and severely restricted issuance of Schengen visas to Russian citizens , which separated families and halted social and cultural interactions. Rather than hurting Putin, the hard end of the punitive stick often hit the elderly, who have been unable to see relatives, and young people, who have been cut off from Europe, while benefitting the airlines that still fly.
My story is about how ordinary people cope with travel barriers between Russia and the West. Iron Curtain: the new norm. Photo Wikimedia Commons.
Peterburg would turn up. It did, and after haggling over occupation of the front seat I won , our rundown and overpacked Ford Fusion started its journey east. The usual way of travelling from Helsinki to St.
