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Editorial meeting at the TV channel OstWest in Berlin: moderator Konstantin Hackethal prepares the daily Russian-language news broadcast.
Konstantin Hackethal, moderator
»We report on today's conference by Putin in Moscow.
Who still believes that the Russian economy will steadfastly overcome all sanctions..."
On this day, as always, at 12 noon, it is decided what is important today, what needs to be said and what needs to be shown in the evening.
Editor-in-Chief Maria Makeeva is responsible.
She was formerly deputy editor-in-chief of TV-Dozhd, the last independent TV channel in Russia.
The station was blocked by authorities in early March.
Maria Makeeva, Editor-in-Chief OstWest
»I'm a journalist.
All I can do, all I've wanted to do my whole life, is just do my job.
And that's my job now - to say what is: It's war, period."
Here the word Voina, war, is used demonstratively.
In Russia, you face up to 15 years in prison.
Makeeva has headed the small editorial team since 2016.
The team of around ten Russians, Ukrainians and German-Russians from Kazakhstan has been working in a state of emergency since the beginning of the war.
Konstantin Hackethal, moderator
»These events are also psychologically stressful for everyone, because they practically take place at your home.
You have friends, you have relatives, also in the Ukraine, also in Russia, one way or another each of us is affected.«
Konstantin Hackethal has been living in Berlin since 2008, when he moved here from Moscow for personal reasons.
He is one of over 230,000 Russians in Germany.
Some of them are even demonstrating for Putin in this country, and the OstWest broadcaster also reports in detail on this.
Konstantin Hackethal, moderator
“I don't really understand people who are pro-Putin and live here in Germany.
Because they have access to all sources of information, they live here in Germany and enjoy this democracy - and still believe in Putin.
That probably has to be a thing for a psychotherapist.«
The division in the community is particularly visible on the social media platforms.
Ekaterina Koroleva, Social Media Editor
»There are people who accuse us of spreading fake news, that we lie, that the situation in Mariupol, for example, is not bad at all.
It's probably Putin's trolls.
So we get a lot of hate comments, but that's ok."
OstWest has been on the air since 1996, and the private broadcaster can be seen via cable and the Internet.
It is financed by cable subscribers and advertising.
The task that the small broadcaster sets itself every day, especially in today's situation, is remarkable: education for the Russian-speaking communities - in Germany and worldwide.
In Russia, OstWest can still be received via the Internet.
Maria Makeeva, Editor-in-Chief OstWest
»Before the war, our main target group were Russians in Germany, then Ukrainians came.
Viewers in Russia were only in third place.
But now we have to reach the people in Russia above all.
We must do it.«
Putin's stranglehold on the media has tightened over the years.
Russia is now 150th out of 180 in the press freedom rankings.
Reporters Without Borders has been documenting the Kremlin's tactics for years: More and more laws are restricting media and internet freedom.
Journalists who receive money from abroad are automatically classified as »foreign agents«.
Contributions must be marked accordingly, otherwise imprisonment is imminent.
Since the beginning of the war, critics have faced years of imprisonment because of vague anti-extremism laws.
The consequence of this censorship is a constant exodus of journalists from the country.
In order to do their job, they flee to Georgia, Turkey, Armenia, the Baltic States, Poland or the Czech Republic - today there are hundreds of journalists from Russia scattered throughout Europe - there are no exact figures.
An endangered journalist also found refuge in the OstWest editorial office in Berlin-Charlottenburg.
At the beginning of the war, Ruslan Dergalow flew from Moscow to Istanbul – and was stranded there for more than a month without a passport and without a working bank or credit card.
Until Maria Makeeva helped him to Berlin.
For two years, Ruslan worked for the channel as a social media manager from Moscow, online.
His odyssey ended a day ago – now the relief prevails.
Ruslan Dergalow, Social Media Manager
»On the one hand it is very sad what is happening in the world and that I had to leave my home country.
And I don't know when I can go back to Russia.
On the other hand, there is something good and happy that I personally met all these people because they are really good people and I am proud to work with these people.«
On day 2 in the editorial office, a new project is already in the works.
Ruslan Dergalov
»Well, everything is not so bad, like that.
Everything is great.«
Maria Makeeva, Editor-in-Chief OstWest
»He is doing much better than many of our colleagues who have no job, no money, no visa, who have nowhere to go.«
»Putin has destroyed everything that we have in Russia in 30 years had achieved.
It just hurts to see that your country has no future.
But the fate of Russia is one thing.
The most important thing right now is that this war ends - and as soon as possible.
The Ukrainians are the real victims here.
It's just awful."
Shortly before seven o'clock, final touches before the broadcast.
It is clear to Konstantin Hackethal what he hopes to gain from this.
Konstantin Hackethal, moderator
»Of course it would be ideal if the people behind the new wall saw and heard this reporting, which might raise some doubts about Russian propaganda in their minds.
Sure, I won't reach everyone.
But if I can reach a few people, it's already a success.«
Showing the pictures, naming war crimes as such – these journalists see it as their task.
And that will also happen from this small studio this evening at 7 p.m., like every working day.