April 23, 2026

"We Shouldn't Feel Fear"


"We Shouldn't Feel Fear"
TV presenter and blogger Victoria Bonya in her address to the Russian president. Victoria Bonya, Instagram.

On April 14, television hostess and blogger Victoria Bonya posted a video addressing the president, saying, "Vladimir Vladimirovich, [people] are scared of you." Two days later, she uploaded another recording, crying and thanking the Kremlin for watching her message.

In an 18-minute-long video addressed to Putin, Bonya said, "The people fear you. Bloggers, artists fear you. Governors fear you. You are the president of our country. I think we shouldn't feel fear." The journalist said she wasn't scared of the Russian president.

In her video, Bonya noted five problems facing Russia: flooding in Dagestan, fuel oil contamination of the Black Sea in Anapa, rules permitting the killing of animals, the mass slaughter of livestock in Novosibirsk, and internet blockages. The blogger also said that the cost of living in Russia was getting out of control, making people want to leave the country. Within a day, the video received a million likes.

During a press briefing on April 16, Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov said, regarding Bonya's comments, that "many topics are being touched on there, and as you have seen, work is already being done on them." Peskov continued, "None of this is being ignored."

In response to Peskov's comments, Bonya uploaded a teary-eyed video thanking Putin and Peskov for not having "passed by" her comments. The blogger said she felt touched that the Kremlin watched her message and informed her that "work is already underway on the issues we raised."

In her address, Bonya said that she saw the BBC and the banned opposition channel Dozhd TV were analyzing her comments. Other independent channels, such as The Insider, reached out to the TV presenter. She responded, "Don't involve me, please, I am not with you, I am with the people, I am a part of the people." According to Meduza, Bonya also said that she is not "an opposition figure."

Bonya said that she did not know what the future held, but that her video was "worth it." According to the blogger, she wasn't paid, and if she hadn't recorded her appeal, it would have been a "betrayal to the Russian spirit." "I am here for us, for our great country, to live the best life possible," said the TV presenter.

Bonya does not reside in Russia.

You Might Also Like

Tolstoy Would Be Proud
  • April 15, 2026

Tolstoy Would Be Proud

Alexei Tolstoy's grandson, along with four people and a Tatar advocacy group, was declared a foreign agent on the same day.
Young Voices Under Pressure
  • April 16, 2026

Young Voices Under Pressure

Young Russian journalists navigate fear, censorship, and an uncertain future in a shrinking space for independent reporting.
A Rough Patch for Putin?
  • April 12, 2026

A Rough Patch for Putin?

The Russian president is seeing some of his lowest approval ratings in decades, and that's according to state media.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

Survival Russian
February 01, 2009

Survival Russian

Survival Russian is an intensely practical guide to conversational, colloquial and culture-rich Russian. It uses humor, current events and thematically-driven essays to deepen readers’ understanding of Russian language and culture. This enlarged Second Edition of Survival Russian includes over 90 essays and illuminates over 2000 invaluable Russian phrases and words.

Murder at the Dacha
July 01, 2013

Murder at the Dacha

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin has a problem. Several, actually. Not the least of them is the fact that a powerful Soviet boss has been murdered, and Matyushkin's surly commander has given him an unreasonably short time frame to close the case.

Driving Down Russia's Spine
June 01, 2016

Driving Down Russia's Spine

The story of the epic Spine of Russia trip, intertwining fascinating subject profiles with digressions into historical and cultural themes relevant to understanding modern Russia. 

A Taste of Russia
November 01, 2012

A Taste of Russia

The definitive modern cookbook on Russian cuisine has been totally updated and redesigned in a 30th Anniversary Edition. Layering superbly researched recipes with informative essays on the dishes' rich historical and cultural context, A Taste of Russia includes over 200 recipes on everything from borshch to blini, from Salmon Coulibiac to Beef Stew with Rum, from Marinated Mushrooms to Walnut-honey Filled Pies. A Taste of Russia shows off the best that Russian cooking has to offer. Full of great quotes from Russian literature about Russian food and designed in a convenient wide format that stays open during use.

How Russia Got That Way
September 20, 2025

How Russia Got That Way

A fast-paced crash course in Russian history, from Norsemen to Navalny, that explores the ways the Kremlin uses history to achieve its ends.

Fish
February 01, 2010

Fish

This mesmerizing novel from one of Russia’s most important modern authors traces the life journey of a selfless Russian everywoman. In the wake of the Soviet breakup, inexorable forces drag Vera across the breadth of the Russian empire. Facing a relentless onslaught of human and social trials, she swims against the current of life, countering adversity and pain with compassion and hope, in many ways personifying Mother Russia’s torment and resilience amid the Soviet disintegration.

Life Stories
September 01, 2009

Life Stories

The Life Stories collection is a nice introduction to contemporary Russian fiction: many of the 19 authors featured here have won major Russian literary prizes and/or become bestsellers. These are life-affirming stories of love, family, hope, rebirth, mystery and imagination, masterfully translated by some of the best Russian-English translators working today. The selections reassert the power of Russian literature to affect readers of all cultures in profound and lasting ways. Best of all, 100% of the profits from the sale of this book are going to benefit Russian hospice—not-for-profit care for fellow human beings who are nearing the end of their own life stories.

93 Untranslatable Russian Words
December 01, 2008

93 Untranslatable Russian Words

Every language has concepts, ideas, words and idioms that are nearly impossible to translate into another language. This book looks at nearly 100 such Russian words and offers paths to their understanding and translation by way of examples from literature and everyday life. Difficult to translate words and concepts are introduced with dictionary definitions, then elucidated with citations from literature, speech and prose, helping the student of Russian comprehend the word/concept in context.

Fearful Majesty
July 01, 2014

Fearful Majesty

This acclaimed biography of one of Russia’s most important and tyrannical rulers is not only a rich, readable biography, it is also surprisingly timely, revealing how many of the issues Russia faces today have their roots in Ivan’s reign.

The Moscow Eccentric
December 01, 2016

The Moscow Eccentric

Advance reviewers are calling this new translation "a coup" and "a remarkable achievement." This rediscovered gem of a novel by one of Russia's finest writers explores some of the thorniest issues of the early twentieth century.

The Little Humpbacked Horse
November 03, 2014

The Little Humpbacked Horse

A beloved Russian classic about a resourceful Russian peasant, Vanya, and his miracle-working horse, who together undergo various trials, exploits and adventures at the whim of a laughable tsar, told in rich, narrative poetry.

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955