Mikhail Shishkin: My dear Russians — the Ukrainians are fighting Putin’s army for their freedom, and ours

Award winning Russian author says his country is associated not with Russian literature and music but with children under bombardment

Mikhail Shishkin: "All these years I’ve been trying in my statements and publications to explain to people just who Putin is. It hasn’t worked. And now Putin himself has explained it to everyone." Picture: David Levenson/Getty Images

I’m a Russian. Vladimir Putin is committing monstrous crimes in the name of my people, my country, and me. 

Putin is not Russia. Russia is hurt and ashamed.