It's kind of hard to explain the young, bummed dude position in all this. What I'm noticing with young guys is that they almost hold out hope that Russia could be the promised land. They don't want to go fight someone they have a vague sense they might escape to someday.
Talking with an old dude about a 23 yo mechanic we know who's open to moving outside the country altogether and he just can't get the absolute vacuum some guys have. All these relationships, connections, and community that exist for him are utterly absent for the kid.
"Like if he would move, what about his girlf-"
"Don't got one"
Well his family would have to miss-"
"he's got a single mother and she doesn't act like he exists, he makes her feel "old"
Well, it's his country, how could he just up and leave his home - "
"his government endlessly shits on him and tells his incoming replacements that he's the root of all ills in teh world."
"So he's really gonna learn a language? That's a lot of work"