“We haven’t attacked Ukraine either. We’re defending our territory”, “Ukraine was ours then [in USSR], too!”, “It [Ukraine] was always part of Russia”, - this Russian woman is a good illustration of how an average Russian person sees the war and Ukraine. It is a mix of propaganda, ignorance and stereotypes, with little independent thinking.
You could just say that you don’t want to talk. This person was eager to share her views.
I guess you’re right. Declining an interview is always an option.