There's something strange about this reaction. We've all assumed that Russians generally believe Putin's propaganda. But apparently they don't or else they wouldn't have this panicked reaction. I mean getting the hell out of Russia right now is the sort of thing a well informed person would do.
These are generally the younger middle classes (otherwise they would not be able to afford to flee, let alone to somewhere like Finland). Many of them will have much more sceptical views (as well being able to get round the censors) on Russian government information. Certainly much sceptical than some babushka living in the provinces.
Propaganda isn't all encompassing, it's not China. Like everything else in Russia it is "just good enough" - it's crude, but they hit you over the head with it pretty hard. As long as you don't try and challenge anyone powerful (especially Putin), the state will generally stay out of your life and let you get on with things. There are no social credit scores, "great firewalls" or a million online spies tracking your every move.
For the older generation this crude propaganda works just fine - Putin will always be remembered as the guy who saved them from anarchy and total humiliation. Younger people increasingly don't remember the dark days of the 90s, so don't have this emotional attachment. They also tend to be much more sophisticated consumers of media, and don't just sit there watching TV, cheering on the deranged talking heads. Talking of deranged talking heads, Tucker Carlson is very popular on Russian propaganda channels, for some reason
So if they don't really believe their own propaganda that would mean that the Russian population has been generally apathetic to their own country killing hundreds of thousands of civilians.
Indeed. You live in Moscow, or one of the nicer cities, and enjoy yourself while the government does it's thing. You don't ask too many questions, don't protest and they will leave you to your own ends. It was an unwritten social contract. Which Putin has now just broken with mobilisation.
Watch these two young Russians try to explain to a local why they ran to Kazakhstan