It is not only in war-weary Ukraine where an invasion seems impossible.

To most Russians, unless they work in media or political consulting, the risk of an impending war with Ukraine is as far-fetched as the chance of getting hit by a chunk of melting snow.

In Moscow, the outdoor skating rinks are full, a major exhibition of a 20th century artist is pre-booked for a month in advance and high street retailers all try to lure customers for a Valentine’s Day shopping spree.

Alexandra Turchenkova, 33, who works at a Moscow theatre, found out about the Ukraine crisis just a few weeks ago by stumbling upon an article shared on social media.

Disaster is incomprehensible

“I didn’t know anything about that escalation until I saw some posts on Facebook,” Ms Turchenkova said. “Other than that, there isn’t much discussion about it. If I think about the people I met recently, this subject never came up. Not once.”

Perhaps people are not talking about it because the scale of the disaster being discussed is incomprehensible

For many in both countries the idea of Russia bombing Kyiv, a gem of Slavic culture universally loved in both, just seems demented.

Even after eight years of war and 14,000 deaths, the division of Russians and Ukrainians into mortal enemies is difficult for many to get their heads around.

Tatiana is particularly disgusted by attempts by either side in the conflict to weaponise language as a tool of identity.

“I have acquaintances who are teachers in [Russian-controlled] Donetsk, and they say it is the same: they are trying to stamp out Ukrainian there the same way they have tried it with Russian here,” she said, referring to a language law that insists all classes are taught in Ukrainian.