Ukrainian neo-nazis?
The N-word is used a lot by Putin supporters but few who aren't Russian understand what they mean when they use the expression...
The invaluable Kamil Galeev explains (slightly edited for clarity)
"(Putin's first message to Russians and allies) is that Russia saved the world from the Nazi military machine (which it fostered for years, but who cares) and thus everyone is in eternal debt before Russia.
Second, is that Russia is stronger than anyone and absolutely can repeat WWII success - "можем поворить" (we can repeat, mafketis)
Putinist ideology is dualist. The dark force of Nazism fights against force of light,
Russia. Hence, anyone who objects to Russia *now* is Nazi. Finns, Poles and ofc Ukrainians. Having Ukrainian identity is itself a proof of your Nazism. If were not Nazi, you'd just become Russian
That's a paradoxical twist of Putinist ideology which is not well understood abroad. Any minority culture which is regarded as a threat to the homogeneity of Russian world will be declared:
1. fake
2. treasonous
3. Nazi
Russia is the force of light, so those defying it are Nazi"
In other words, it has no practical meaning beyond 'opposing Putin or Russian hegemony'...
full thread here:
twitter.com/kamilkazani/status/1503053699798769666
Galeev is doing amazing work in getting the word out how Putin's Russia works (controlled by state security and various mafias) and how and why Putin got the world into this mess..