Another thought is, OK, you deleted all your texts. Then, walking around, a text comes in, and seconds later a cop asks for your phone..

Fear, as you say, is the purpose.

> Fear, as you say, is the purpose.

I would add that multiple aspects of Putin's attack plan for Ukraine relied heavily on its ability to instill fear.

Putin's regime expected Zelenski to flee at the sight of Russia's military at the border, they expected border cities to promptly fold at the sight of Russia's army, they expected Ukraine's army to surrender once Russia's army gained some ground, they expected all NATO and neighboring countries to stay quiet and did nothing when threatened, implicitly or explicitly, by them.

But thankfully their bluff was called, and Putin's regime was exposed as the fascist paper tiger they are.

Russia might be poor, especially now, but most young people have seen using two or more phones. Burner bumdphone is not a difficult concept. Someone needs to drop a stock of old lineageos/android phones in there.

Won't they pat you down for phones though? I mean burner phones are kind of an obvious thing these days.

Well I meant it as a secondary easy device at home (not like a laptop). Something you can leave before going outside.

It’s healthier to just use a laptop.

still less easy to throw out, and less separation from legal life and 'anti putin talks'

Exactly, it's an overt message that what you say is being watched, so watch what you say.

That is exactly what happened