After the start of the war with Ukraine on February 24, 2022, anti-war demonstrations, speeches, petitions, and open letters broke out in Russia - in different cities. Many citizens, artists, and public figures spoke out against the war. However, the authorities reacted harshly: rallies were dispersed, people were detained, activists were removed, and journalists were intimidated. Since the beginning of mobilization and the intensification of repression, protest activity has gradually declined, with many rights fighters either emigrating or falling silent. However, 2022 has shown that there is a significant part of the population that resists military aggression - despite the risks.

In July, Russian authorities began preparations for holding “referendums” in the occupied territories of Ukraine - in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporozhye and Kherson regions. Electoral structures were created locally, information campaigns were carried out, and Russian passports were imported. Inside Russia, this was presented as a step towards “historical unification.” However, the international community stated in advance that any such votes would be illegitimate. In the summer, the logistics of Russian passports and the management of new territories intensified, which became one of the most complex political and administrative processes of the year.

Since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine, domestic and foreign policy has been accompanied by a powerful media and information campaign. According to the study, thousands of pro-Kremlin posts on social networks were spread using bots, amplifying the propaganda. Inside Russia, censorship, control over the media, and pressure on independent sources have been strengthened. This influenced the perception of the war and the formation of public opinion - many did not receive alternative information. On the one hand, propaganda helped unite part of society around the official line. On the other hand, repression has intensified, the mechanisms of criticism and discussion have been broken.

May 2022 was a key moment for Russian aviation. After the imposition of sanctions, most foreign lessors demanded the return of the aircraft, and manufacturers Boeing and Airbus refused to service Russian aircraft. Spare parts, software and certification have become unavailable. Russian airlines found themselves in a unique situation: more than 500 leased aircraft became “non-returnable”, their status turned out to be semi-legal, which led to the threat of international sanctions. Russia began “cannibalization” - dismantling some aircraft into parts to maintain others. Many international routes were closed, and domestic routes became more expensive. Passenger traffic of Ural, S7 and Aeroflot decreased, and the regions faced restrictions on flights. May marked the beginning of a long crisis in air travel - the industry realized that it could no longer count on Western technologies, services and partners.

In the first months after the start of the war, according to sociological surveys, the share of people in Russia who support the actions of the government and believe that “all decisions of the authorities are correct” has increased. In April 2022, civic activity, migration and information pressure strengthened the sense of “cohesion” among part of the population, especially in small towns and regions. Many residents, faced with sanctions, instability and information war, have, as they say, “united around the flag.” This reflected profound changes in public consciousness: conflict, war, external pressure - formed a new layer of “patriotism” and loyalty to the authorities.

In April 2022, Instagram and Facebook, owned by Meta, which Russian authorities recognized as an extremist organization, were blocked in Russia. This became the largest restriction in the field of social networks in the entire history of the country. The blocking affected tens of millions of Russians - Instagram was one of the most popular platforms for businesses and bloggers. Thousands of entrepreneurs have lost sales platforms, advertising tools, subscribers and communication channels. Many of them were unable to quickly adapt to new conditions, and their incomes fell sharply. Censorship in all areas of media has also increased: YouTube has become the main destination for free content, and authorities have begun to look for ways to limit its influence. Many laws have appeared introducing liability for the spread of “fakes” about the army, for criticism of the state and military actions. Hundreds of journalists left abroad, dozens of media projects were closed. April was the month when the Russian information space actually came under complete state control, and people switched to VPNs, Telegram and closed communities.

On April 8, 2022, the Russian authorities, through the Ministry of Justice, revoked the registration of 15 foreign organizations - among them Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and a number of others. Officially, this is framed as a “violation of Russian legislation,” but in essence it is regarded as the suppression of independent human rights structures. The decision followed shortly after the start of the war, as international attention to human rights and possible war crimes grew. International organizations said the decision was an attempt to “throw an iron curtain” over criticism and human rights activities in Russia. This became one of the key signals: the space for civil society, independent media and human rights defenders has seriously narrowed.

On February 24, 2022, an event occurred that determined the political, economic and social development of Russia for years to come. In the morning, the Russian President announced the start of a “special military operation” in Ukraine. Military operations covered many directions - from Kyiv and Chernigov to the Kharkov, Kyiv and Kherson regions. The largest military conflict in Europe since World War II has begun. Inside Russia, this was accompanied by the introduction of strict measures of control over information. Independent media faced a ban on using the words “war” and “invasion.” Thousands of people took to the streets with anti-war slogans - about 15 thousand protesters were detained in the first weeks. Many public figures, journalists, and entrepreneurs left the country. The economic consequences became noticeable in the very first days: the ruble exchange rate collapsed to historical lows, Western countries imposed the largest sanctions in the entire history of Russia, and international companies began to leave the market en masse. A new economic reality began: imported goods disappeared and supply chains collapsed. February was a turning point that divided the modern history of Russia into “before” and “after,” creating a long-term political and social crisis.