To be scared to live in the UK

[Edemummy]

Hi all, please tell me what do you honestly think? I am working myself all up, but maybe for no reason at all..
I have lived in the UK for the last 15 years, but was born in Russia and lived there until I was 25. I have been back twice since then, 4 days and a week. Keep in touch with my mum via Whatsapp and very rarely with brother and other relatives.
I am a naturalised citizen in the UK for nearly 10 years now, my hubby is English and I have 2 children, primary and pre-school age, who don't speak any Russian at all and our entire world is British.
Every time I read news/ social media/ TV I get this awful anxiety. I am horrified that Russia had actually invaded Ukraine and in no uncertain terms I disagree with it, however I find it difficult to cope with the amount of negativity associated with Russia. Sometimes it feels that there is no differentiation between the current government and anyone/ anything who is connected with that country in any way. Technically speaking, I am only 1/4 Russian, and one of my grandads was a Ukrainian so it's all very painful for me.
My husband doesn't understand why I am so worried, but I can't help but think that it is only a matter of time when things will start getting really dangerous for people who are from Russia and live in the UK? What do you honestly think, is this likely to happen? I am talking about physical violence, not able to get a job type of treatment, being frozen out generally. I am worried that it will impact the children as well. I know this is a dooms day type of scenario but sometimes I really do believe that things will get this bad. Especially after reading a lot of people's comments online on this, it is getting really scary.

You're worrying necessarily. Don't get me wrong I understand why you're worried, but if we do go into war we will not be taking action on people like you who've been here for years.
The reality is that a war with Russia is likely to be nuclear (several despot communist leaders could press the button - China are acting like AHs at the mo...) and then we're all doomed.

What do you honestly think, is this likely to happen?

Zero chance

You’re panicking OP. I work in careers with experienced hires and with international MBA students, quite a few of my clients are Russian (I’m Russian) - I have not yet come across a single instance of them being disadvantaged or mistreated, they get promotions, change careers, start businesses just like everyone else. Overwhelmingly there is nothing but sympathy for them.

I understand the feeling though but I think if you reflect on it, it’s very likely coming from the consumption of online news/social media - I’m active on LinkedIn for professional reasons and god knows what I haven’t seen there in the past years. Not just Russians being demonised but now Israelis, and many other not necessarily nations but identities. But online is not real life!

I have very consciously moved away from online news and SM for exactly these reasons - I think it makes you see the world and people at their worst. It gives you nothing but anxiety. In real life you meet - overwhelmingly - kind, good people.

I have a 1 year old that I am making a lot of effort to teach Russian so she can speak to my family. My English husband is extremely supportive, and generally when people hear me speak to her, they often ask about the language and we have a chat about Russia. I am yet to come across a negative reaction IRL.

Most nations have done terrible things in their past. It doesn’t mean there isn’t a lot of good in there too. I hate the war but I am not disowning my roots and my family based on politics.

I can empathise- there is a lot of vitriol online towards Russians, and "Othering"
I say this as a Palestinian myself, living in the UK, that I am on the daily, reading and hearing (online mostly) how I pretty much might as well be responsible for the Middle East and that I don't want peace, that I am vermin and that the occupation my family are living under on a daily basis in the WB is made up, that we technically don't exist, never have and never should; that apparently Palestinian women have no rights and no education and all we have is evil in our hearts. I am made to feel responsible, and hearing that me saying enough is enough is hate speech.

Im so sorry you’re going through this datcherygrateful. The antisemitism in the UK is in the news daily, but there’s virtually no mention of how Muslims are bearing the brunt of this too. None of us are accountable or responsible and shouldn’t be in a position where we are scared to open our mouths. As if the ongoing fear and high level stress of what is going on in Palestine, Russia and Israel, we have to hear how we don’t deserve to live in our original homelands. Or in your case, that yours isn’t even really a place in its own right. It’s tragic and utterly horrible.

I felt bad for the Russian families in ds's school when they plastered Ukrainian flags and I'm sure they have nothing against Ukraine and never supported the war as they are just average families who have nothing to do with the war which is why I'm against schools taking sides although this was a private nursery attached to a prep school who had many Russian families but overall, i can understand your concerns.

I don't want to hijack this with my what about so and so nor do I want to brush off your lived experience but being a Muslim is very hard in this country and generally in the west. Even when the sad event where the Russian concert was terrorised recently with many casualties, I just thought to myself I wonder which thugs (mercenaries) were hired and paid to carry out this act to blame Muslims again. The tabloids do hate Putin though with passion and the way it's governed but they hate the whole Muslim population and other immigrants 100 times more.

Post deleted. Sorry.

Op you know it’s safe and fine here. You have been here for two years.
My Russian friends are embarrassed of Putins decision to invade Ukraine but glad to be thousands of miles away quite frankly.

Im thinking of leaving the uk because im so fed up with it.

In Baltic countries, Poland, Scandinavia countries there's an awareness that some Russians are influenced by Moscow's narrative due to limited exposure to outside information, while others are simply victims of a system that suppresses dissent. How many families in Russia have lost loved ones, leading to resentment toward the state? Not every Russian is to blame, many Russians don't want that war and it comes from a Polish born person.

However, I don't think that " It is going to be Ok": the conflict will escalate within next months. Thousands of soldiers, tanks, and planes pass through Poland daily toward the Eastern NATO border. 5-6 armies from a Western countries will enter Ukraine with a "peace mission" that will evolve into a conflict. Listen to what Macron said, Listen to what NATO Stoltenberg and Huges say. We must prepare for uncertain times ahead. The played out territory in this proxy war will be in Eastern Europe.The first sign may emerge as early as June. This year it is only preludium...remember my words. I wish I could relay more optimistic news.

th[e] war ... comes from a Polish born person
Can you clarify that for me, please?