In the wake of the Ukraine war, a significant number of Russians have chosen to leave their homeland, experiencing a sense of guilt and disillusionment with their country. Evgeniy Kosgorov, a 38-year-old from Krasnodar, departed Russia in June 2022 with his family, viewing his nation as a villainous state on a path similar to Nazi Germany. Even in his adopted home of Tbilisi, Georgia, Russia’s influence continued to haunt him. As a citizen of an aggressor state, Kosgorov felt compelled to leave rather than confront his government’s actions.
Estimates suggest that up to one million Russians, out of a total population of 144 million, left the country in 2022 and 2023, resulting in the largest brain drain since the collapse of the Soviet Union. A recent study conducted by Russian researchers Ivetta Sergeeva and Emil Kamalov, based on interviews with nearly 10,000 Russian political exiles, found that 49 percent of respondents felt strong guilt for the war, while 59 percent felt a strong sense of responsibility for it.
The research indicates that most Russians left due to their opposition to the war in Ukraine and the prevailing narratives portraying Russia as a noble country fighting against Ukrainian “fascists.” They also anticipated further military mobilization, internal repression, and a potential economic crisis. The study was conducted in multiple waves between March 2022 and May-July 2023, with funding provided by the department of political and social sciences at the European University Institute in Florence.
Many of the departing Russians chose to settle in countries within the former Soviet bloc, which continue to offer favorable regulations for Russian citizens to live and work. However, this mass influx of Russians has had economic and demographic effects on countries like Georgia, Armenia, and Kazakhstan, including rising prices and reminders of Russia’s colonial past.
Despite leaving Russia, individuals like Evgeniy Kosgorov still struggle to find peace. Kosgorov, who now resides in Tbilisi, has opened a bar and art space called UGallery, where he hosts anti-war exhibitions and organizes fundraisers for Ukraine. However, he remains haunted by the loss of his homeland and longs for a sense of stability and certainty about the future.
Russian exiles like Kosgorov often face criticism abroad, with some arguing that they should return to Russia and lead a mass revolution against President Vladimir Putin. However, Kosgorov believes that peaceful protests rarely succeed in overthrowing autocracies, and such a move would likely result in more political prisoners. Others, like Sergey, a 40-year-old from Moscow, also feel guilt and hopelessness. Sergey left Russia in October 2022 and now works remotely from Yerevan, Armenia. He copes with his emotions by writing letters to Russian political prisoners and acknowledging that others are worse off than him.
According to political scientist Margarita Zavadskaya, who specializes in Russian political exiles, the recent wave of migration from Russia is distinct in its politicization. These exiles form stronger communities, engage in activism, and seek to regain their dignity and sense of purpose. Despite their feelings of depression, guilt, and anger, they are determined to reinvent themselves in their new circumstances.
Unlike previous migration waves, these voluntary exiles are often more privileged in terms of knowledge, education, and creativity. They have the resources to survive and thrive outside of Russia and are unlikely to return home unless significant changes occur, such as the end of the war, reparations to Ukraine, and a new administration in Russia.
In conclusion, the brain drain from Russia following the Ukraine war reflects a deep sense of guilt and disillusionment among its citizens. The departure of millions has had significant economic and social implications for both Russia and the countries where they seek refuge. Despite their newfound communities abroad, many exiles still grapple with the loss of their homeland and uncertainty about the future.
