Lyudmila Vasilyeva, an 84-year-old Russian activist and survivor of the Leningrad Siege during World War II, has faced legal repercussions for her outspoken opposition to Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine. On Friday, during her sentencing at the Kuibyshevsky District Court in St Petersburg, she was fined 10,000 rubles (approximately $126) for what authorities deemed “discrediting” the Russian army.
Details of the protest and public support
The charges against Vasilyeva stem from a peaceful demonstration earlier this year, where she held a handwritten sign that read:
“People, let’s stop the war. We are responsible for peace on the planet Earth. With love, Lyudmila Vasilyeva, child of the Leningrad blockade.”
This act of defiance comes amid a significant crackdown on dissent regarding Russia’s military actions in Ukraine, which escalated after the full-scale invasion began in 2022.
In an interview with AFP prior to her court appearance, Vasilyeva expressed her deep sense of “bitterness” and “hurt” regarding the current state of her country. “I have always been someone who is not indifferent, from childhood. I have always been on the side of the weak,” she stated, highlighting her long-standing commitment to advocating for peace.
Historical context and personal background
As a child, Vasilyeva endured the harrowing Siege of Leningrad, which lasted 872 days from September 8, 1941, to January 27, 1944. This tragic event resulted in the deaths of approximately 800,000 individuals due to starvation, exposure, and attacks by Nazi forces. Vasilyeva fondly recalls her mother’s words:
“We will get through everything, as long as there is no war.”
The city of Leningrad was officially renamed back to St Petersburg in 1991, restoring its historical identity.
Vasilyeva’s activism against the war with Ukraine is not new; she has previously been detained multiple times for her protests and in 2022, she attempted to run for governor of St Petersburg but was unable to gather enough signatures for her nomination. The Russian legislation that penalizes “discrediting” the army has been utilized broadly, targeting various forms of anti-war expression, including the display of simple messages like “No War.”
As the conflict in Ukraine continues, estimates indicate that between 165,000 and 235,000 Russian military personnel have lost their lives since the invasion began. In December 2024, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported 43,000 military casualties, although many Western analysts believe this figure to be an under-count.