The small village of Selenduma, more than 5,000 km from Moscow, is nestled near the Mongolian border.

Despite its isolation, support for President Vladimir Putin and his invasion of Ukraine is strong here. Recent footage from the area showed streets lined with processions of people waving Russian flags and cars arranged in the Russian war symbol “Z”.

With a population of just 2,500, opportunities and jobs are hard to come by and for those wishing to leave Selenduma, a contract with the military is seen as a way out of poverty.

It is estimated that at least 23 inhabitants of the village are fighting in Ukraine.

The cars form the Russian war symbol ‘Z’ in Selenduma.

Svetlana Tsydypova is a local teacher and has taught many students who have since found themselves on the front line. She also has a son who fights in Ukraine.

“We have a wartime glory museum, it’s been in operation since 1984,” she says.

“Modern events are about international warriors.”

She heads for the galleries of photographs and war memorabilia that line the walls.

“These are the guys who participated in the war in Afghanistan. These are the guys who went through the war in Chechnya. And recently we added another booth. This refers to recent events.

Svetlana Tsydypova is a local teacher in Selenduma.

A photograph of Andrey Dandarov, a 19-year-old born in the city, now hangs in this new exhibit.

He recently died in Ukraine. Svetlana was his main teacher.

“He had completely different interests, his interests were more in the humanities,” she says.

“I didn’t expect him to set his sights on the army.

“If they don’t graduate from university, they are drafted into the army. So he ended up in the army and apparently signed the contract.

Russian soldier Andrey Dandarov from Selenduma recently died on the front line in Ukraine.

Draped in a Russian flag, Andrey’s coffin received a procession with an orchestra and fireworks as it arrived in Selenduma.

A friend of Andrey’s, Nadezhda, said seeing his body reminded her of the risks her own son faces on the front lines.

“I have never seen such a dignified and solemn funeral,” she said.

“Many remember him as a good and kind person.

“The fact that such young guys are dying is painfully sad.”

Despite these realities of war, the city held several events in support of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, including a children’s soccer tournament and a car race.

“All these events [are] to support our guys in the special operation in Ukraine…those flash mobs, sporting events, car races, humanitarian packages,” says Svetlana.

“It’s a huge plus for the guys because they’re looking forward to it.

“I [say] this based on my son, his words – it really inspires him.

Russian nationalism

Victory Day is celebrated in Russia on May 9 every year.

It is on this day that the country commemorates the defeat of the former Soviet Union by Nazi Germany in World War II.

This year, Mr Putin addressed a military parade in Moscow’s Red Square. He praised soldiers fighting in Ukraine while reinforcing his denazification narrative and saying that Russia was under threat from the West and NATO expansion.

“You are fighting for the homeland, for its future, so that no one forgets the lessons of the Second World War,” he said.

President Vladimir Putin at Russia’s Victory Day Parade. Credit: United States

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded to Mr Putin’s comments in a video message, saying he would not allow Russia to justify its invasion of Ukraine by comparing it to its victory over the Nazis in 1945.

“Today we celebrate Victory Day over Nazism,” Zelenskyy said.

“We are proud of our ancestors who, together with other nations of the anti-Hitler coalition, defeated Nazism. And we will not allow anyone to annex this victory.

“We will not allow it to be appropriate.”

Anti-war sentiment in Russia

Not all Russians support the invasion of Ukraine, which Mr Putin called a “special military operation”.

Leonid is a university student and activist in Russia.

“This war can only bring more poverty on us and new repressions,” he said.

Mr Putin’s rhetoric of patriotism and military aggression has been used to engage Russian youth and is seen as a way to secure his legacy.

Schools and universities can be used for military recruitment, with more than a million children belonging to the Youth Army, a state-supported cadet program run in schools.

Mass conscription is used to replenish troops on the front line.

Every year, about 260,000 men between the ages of 18 and 27 are conscripted for 12 months. Many will then sign full-time contracts to join the army.

“Education today is not about imparting new knowledge, teaching new skills, but about implanting this clumsy lie of the ruling regime, the ruling elite of this regime,” says Leonid.

Leonid is a university student in Russia.

Leonid says fighting for student rights saw him expelled and facing disciplinary action.

However, if he can’t stay enrolled in college, he could find himself on the front line. All men between the ages of 18 and 27 must perform their military service in Russia. As a university student, Leonid is currently exempt.

But rumor has it that Mr Putin is considering massive conscription to replenish the workforce.

“We will fight hard against mass conscription,” says Leonid.

“In reality, mass conscription, forced military service, is a huge problem – I will do my best to become useful here rather than going to the front.

“My generation was born under Putin, but I definitely don’t want to die under him.