Real Cinema: Arkady Babchenko and Evgeny Chichvarkin

In the new episode of “Real Cinema,” Vitaly Mansky talks with Evgeny Chichvarkin and Arkady Babchenko. Both support Ukraine and oppose Vladimir Putin, but each is involved in this war in his own way.

Evgeny Chichvarkin talks about helping the Ukrainian army, fundraising, and volunteer initiatives. In Riga, he is preparing a charity event in support of Ukraine. For him, this is a personal war, one in which he participates in whatever ways he can.

Arkady Babchenko discusses modern warfare, which has been radically transformed by the widespread use of drones. He explains why travelling in an ordinary car near the front line has become deadly dangerous, recalls his own experience fighting in Chechnya, and reflects on Russian society, the authorities, and responsibility for what is happening.

What does it mean to support Ukraine from far away from the front line? Is it possible to fight a war without taking up arms? And can Russian society make any difference?