Living next to Russia, about 70km to nearest border crossing, 2 others withing 100km.
Ï live in (I think) all white small town.
Not that we are racist (some are bit disliking of foreigners, but even they just seem grumble quietly brhing everyone's backs or in their groups drunk in the bars), but non just have just moved to this distant quiet area of 3700 or so people.
Few years back for many years Russians really affected the bigger city next to us.
Every day bus loads (over hundred) of Turist from Russia came here to shop for food and stuff, and many more came with their own cars.
You could not walk around the city without hearing constant russian.
In the beginning they were rude and cut in shopping lines, one very annoying tactic they had was that one was waiting in line and then when his/her turn came dozen or so persons with shopping carts rushed in and cut in line.
That did not last long as customers (and many cashiers as well) literally told them fuck off and get to back of the line.
Word got around and the turists started acting well, and all was fine.
Shops also opened so called tax free cashiers where those turists got their tax refund stuff sorted fast by experienced cashiers.
This also freed the normal cashiers who didn't do the tax free stuff for local people.
Both were happy as lines were kept short as enough cashiers were available.
They also bought houses at large volumes at great prices (up to maybe 50% more that locals would have paid).
Before you say, no sellers did not extort them.
Wealthy Russians just came and handed over the money asked without bargaining as much as locals did.
This happened around country.
Also many high end shops and shopping malls were build with the Russian turist in mind.
Then Russian currency tanked and turists left, many selling their houses at low prices.
Now I think I can see maybe bus or two
per week, and nearly no russian is heard, shopping malls are empty.
As for security... Russia will not attack us as it's way cheaper and easier to buy the land piece by piece.
It still directly or indirectly owns many buildings bought around militarily important places...
Russia also started radio station sending great music... and news with heavily Russian point of view, and has licence for opening 3 more.
None of them can be heard here surprisingly.
As for ISIS or other terrorist groups.
Hopefully and probably not gonna attack as this area is too thinly spread to cause really any major damage or injuries.
I believe the density is about 1 person per square kilometer, with no major places to group up, except maybe school or church.
So all in all:
All is quiet and peaceful with economy decent.
And tanking Brittish Pound makes ebay shopping more and more actracting.
