Russians Yearn for Peace and Reflection as 2026 Approaches

As 2025 comes to an end, many Russians are looking forward to the new year with the hope that it might signal the conclusion of the Kremlin’s ongoing war in Ukraine, which has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands on both sides and displaced millions over nearly four years of conflict.

Despite unsuccessful U.S.-brokered peace negotiations this year, Russians interviewed by The Moscow Times expressed a desire for peace as they celebrate the New Year’s holiday, which is the most vibrant celebration in the country.

“My only wish for my fellow countrymen is for the war to end,” remarked Andrei, 30.

Approximately 65% of Russians believe it is time to engage in peace talks, according to a November survey conducted by the Levada Center, the last significant independent polling organization in Russia.

“I wish for a true miracle for Russia, as I think that’s the only way we could achieve peace or at least a pause in the conflict. Anything to alleviate the constant tension and restrictions we face,” said a Moscow resident who wished to remain anonymous, citing the pressures of wartime living conditions.

For Ukraine, 2025 has been one of the deadliest years of the conflict, with Russia intensifying its attacks. The United Nations reported that civilian casualties from January to November were 24% higher compared to the same period in 2024.

Russian forces have made some progress, capturing the Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, but otherwise, the front lines have changed little, with both sides suffering considerable casualties.

According to an independent count by Mediazona and BBC Russian, over 156,000 Russian military personnel have been confirmed dead since the conflict began, though the actual number is thought to be significantly higher.

Despite numerous peace attempts, the fighting seems far from resolution, with both nations refusing to compromise on their essential demands.

“A member of the military expressed to The Moscow Times his hope that 2026 would bring some clarity about when the war might conclude.

“While lasting peace seems unlikely, we expect significant changes in Ukrainian society and, hopefully, a shift in the government,” he noted, reflecting the Kremlin’s narrative that President Volodymyr Zelensky is an illegitimate leader due to his term ending and elections being suspended under martial law.

“It would be preferable to see fewer casualties,” the serviceman added.

Since launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Moscow has attempted to minimize the war’s effects on ordinary Russians.

However, after nearly four years, the war has infiltrated nearly every facet of daily life, through wartime censorship, increased military conscription, and rising repression, alongside the everyday economic challenges posed by Western sanctions.

In light of the growing pressures on household finances during wartime, around 87% of Russians plan to celebrate New Year’s this year, but many are looking to cut back on spending for the occasion.

«I’ve never experienced anything like this before, but everyone—regardless of their financial situation—is complaining about rising prices and increased taxes,” shared a woman from Moscow.

She also noted that everyday life is increasingly affected by disruptions in messaging platforms like Telegram, WhatsApp, and FaceTime, which Russia restricted in 2025, along with previously banned Facebook, Instagram, and X.

The online restrictions do not end there. A law enacted this year now imposes fines on Russians who deliberately seek out “extremist” content online.

This law applies to any inquiries related to the Justice Ministry’s extensive list of extremist materials, which spans hundreds of pages. Many Kremlin critics, including the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s network, as well as independent journalists and political analysts, are among those categorized as «extremist.»

In the first half of 2025, security services initiated criminal cases against at least 173 individuals for political reasons, as reported by the OVD-Info rights monitoring organization.

Although OVD-Info noted that the number of politically motivated prosecutions has declined since the significant spike in 2022, this might be attributed to “increased self-censorship” due to severe penalties against anti-war activists in Russia and public figures who have fled abroad to escape imprisonment.

According to various estimates, over 650,000 Russians have left the country since the war began to evade political persecution or conscription.

One Russian teenager shared with The Moscow Times her wish for the new year: “I hope that all ‘foreign agents’ can return home.”

The situation for LGBTQ+ individuals has also continued to decline, according to the LGBTQ+ rights organization Vykhod (Coming Out).

Human Rights Watch reported that at least 20 individuals faced criminal charges in 2024-2025 for their alleged involvement in what Russia deemed the “international LGBT public movement,” which was banned in 2023.

“For 2026, I hope to see the repeal of laws that infringe on personal choice, such as pressures to limit access to abortions and accusations regarding ‘homosexual propaganda,’” a 24-year-old member of the Russian LGBTQ+ community expressed to The Moscow Times.

“I’m also hoping for the war to end swiftly, for the restoration of international relations, and for our economy to be rebuilt,” he added.

Some Russians expressed feelings of nostalgia for their lives before the war.

“I wish that we all could take a step back, pause, and genuinely reflect” as we approach 2026, said a small business owner from the Orenburg region. “To mentally return, for example, to the 2018 World Cup, when the world marveled at the beauty and openness of our country, its hospitality, and authentic joy. Or to recall the years when a single flight from Sheremetyevo Airport could take you to nearly any European capital.”

“To my fellow Russians, I wish love and hope. Love that is as vast as one can envision, warm and unifying. And hope—the most innocent, childlike hope strong enough to sustain our belief that something better and more just lies ahead,” she concluded.

A husband-and-wife duo of entrepreneurs from the southern Krasnodar region echoed similar sentiments for the new year.

“We want to extend our wishes for love and forgiveness to all humanity as this year concludes,” they shared. “If everyone could take a moment to consider whether they have caused someone pain and strive, even in a small way, to be kinder and more considerate, it might encapsulate what happiness is—being kinder to one another and expressing love for ourselves.”