蜜芽传媒

It's been well over a month now since Russia invaded Ukraine.

Public opinion polls among Russians themselves seem to be generally very supportive of President Putin, and what he calls a special military operation in Ukraine.

But what does public support mean in a society with no functioning political opposition and no free media?

Newsday was joined by a man who was conscripted into the Russian army in December 2008. He became a sergeant and squad commander in Russia's elite special operations forces, Spetsnaz.

Since then he has had a civilian job.

He shared his thoughts on the war in Ukraine, saying "I don't feel comfortable or safe expressing my views. Time of real freedom of speech as well as independent media is long gone in Russia. And since the end of February, we are in full military censorship grounds, but still I cannot keep quiet".

(Photo Credit: Getty Images / Photographer: Metin Aktas)