It's been a long time since I last wrote here, and I've decided to start with a clean slate. From now on, this blog will be about my emigration, my deepest feelings, why I had to leave, how my new life unfolded in Montenegro, why I got obsessed with Zettelkasten, and many other raw parts of my story.
I always knew deep down that I would leave Russia one day - but I never imagined it would be because of the war.
Let's begin.
Why I Left Russia: The War and My Inner Conflict
The roots go back to 2014 - the annexation of Crimea and the start of the conflict in Donbas. Back then, it felt like a distant thunder, something many of us hoped would pass. But life went on, and I tried to focus on work, ideas, and small projects.
On February 24, 2022, everything collapsed. I woke up to the news and felt physically ill. This wasn't just politics anymore - it was outright aggression, destruction, and a web of lies.
I couldn't come to terms with it. I couldn't live in such a country, indirectly supporting it with my presence, my taxes, my silence. I felt as if I were trapped under a heavy concrete slab—crushed for months. Constant tension, guilt, and helplessness weighed on me every day. Worse, almost all of my close friends ended up supporting the war (this completely broke me).
Because of all this, I was completely paralyzed. I couldn't work properly, couldn't start any new projects — not even the ideas that would later become Conoted. My hands felt heavy, thoughts scattered, motivation gone.
One day, the pressure eased just a little, and clarity came: staying meant betraying myself and everything I believed in.
So I packed my things and left for Montenegro.
Too much to pack, not enough hugs: A Kenyan man's last 48 hours in ...
It wasn't just a move — it was salvation. Here, surrounded by the calm of the Adriatic Sea and mountains, I could finally breathe out and start living again. The local "polako" mindset — take it slow, no rush — helped me heal in ways I didn't expect.
Have you ever had to radically change your life because of your principles? I'd love to hear your stories in the comments.
(Next post: How, even in the darkest times in Russia, I found a lifeline in the Zettelkasten method 📝)
This series will connect my personal journey with the knowledge management ideas that eventually inspired Conoted. Stay tuned.
Published on December 22, 2025
