by Tatiana Desyatova The decision to start the special operation of the Russian troops, taken by President Putin came like a thunderstorm out of clear skies for Russian society. The very first days of the war showed that the scale of what is happening goes far beyond not only Russia-Ukraine relations, but also beyond the European continent. It happens on the background of the most desperate struggle in the information sphere and severe economic sanctions. A considerable number of Russian citizens are experiencing mixed feelings: from patriotism and to radical pacifism with demands for peace here and now. Our task is to analyse what is happening from Marxist-Leninist positions. We are sincerely convinced that in difficult situations one should first of all look for answers in the ideological legacy of V I Lenin, since its power is so great that it still relevant and up to date. According to Lenin wars can be of different types. The first is when wars are waged in the interes