Vladivostok: An Asian City Echoing the Impacts of Russia’s War in Ukraine

Sat Sep 13 2025 08:46:25 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

This article explores how the conflict in Ukraine reverberates through Vladivostok, highlighting the experiences of local residents and soldiers affected by the war thousands of miles away.

Vladivostok, situated over 4,000 miles from Ukraine, is feeling the far-reaching impacts of Russia's invasion. From local para ice hockey players who lost limbs fighting in Ukraine to fresh soldier graves in cemeteries, the visuals of war are stark. Residents express mixed feelings regarding the conflict, with some feeling detached and others directly affected. Local artists and citizens offer a glimpse into how the war has reshaped conversations and communities in this eastern Russian city.

At an ice rink in Vladivostok in Russia's far east, 30-year-old Dmitry Afanasyev trains with his teammates from Soyuz, the local Para ice hockey team. All the players have lost limbs while fighting in Ukraine, each with a story of bravery and sacrifice.

The port city of Vladivostok is over 4,000 miles from Ukraine, yet the ramifications of the war resonate strongly here. With fresh graves in local cemeteries for soldiers killed in action and memorials to 'heroes of the Special Military Operation,' the distance feels irrelevant amid the ongoing conflict.

In candid conversations, residents express a range of feelings about the war. Svetlana, a local concerned about the prolonged conflict, longs for peace, while others, like Ilya, suggest their day-to-day lives are unaffected. Musicians and artists reflect a more subdued atmosphere of hope for normalization after prolonged war.

The situation is unprecedented, creating a tapestry of opinions shaped by personal experiences and the broader sociopolitical landscape, showing how the consequences of a distant war have intruded upon the lives of those far from the front lines.