Under Vladimir Putin’s direction, Russia has transformed its culture into a stealth weapon that is aimed to destroy Ukraine’s culture, its identity and people. This overarching theme was repeatedly mentioned at this week’s Ukraine Action Summit in Washington, DC.
The cultural warfare played out in Washington in early October when ethnic Russians accosted a group of Ukrainian supporters, including myself. Peaceful protestors were standing across the street from a Russian Orthodox church and protesting against Russia’s genocide. It seemed surreal how ethnic Russians attending this Russian Church sponsored Bazaar displayed intimidating gestures and fascist symbols. Others displayed their culture by dancing, taunting and laughing in front of posters depicting murdered Ukrainian children.
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American attendees of the Bazaar seemed oblivious to the nefarious Kremlin-controlled Russian Orthodox Church (ROC), which Putin has transformed into a cultural weapon. The ROC of the Moscow patriarchate officially declared a holy war that endorses Russia’s genocide in Ukraine.
In all fairness, many Russian expats oppose Russia’s genocidal purge of Ukrainians. Another Ukraine supporter, originally from Russia, was aggressively confronted by an irate Russian Nationalist demanding his phone number so “they could fight later.”
“Russian culture is killing Ukrainians” according to a poster displayed by Marichka Hylten, a prominent Ukraine activist and refugee. At first glance this could be perceived as bigotry. However, the true meaning of Russophobia has evolved into a surprising twist and literally means “hated of Putin’s Russia” that civilized societies should applaud.
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“This sets a precedent: someone being arrested for singing,” said Seraph, an 18-year-old supporter of Loginova. “Her performances inspired hope.”
In order to understand this, one must understand how Americans and Russians perceive patriotism. Ukrainians and Americans believe that patriotism means love of one’s country. Loyal Russians believe that patriotism means absolute loyalty to an autocratic figure and obedience to Putin’s fanatical imperialism.
The Putinization of Russia’s culture continually evolves. “We see the militarization of culture paired with systemic abuses in the war, including kidnapping and torture of Ukrainian civilians,” according to Nataliia Bondarenko, outreach coordinator with Eurasian/East European studies at the University of North Carolina. Ms. Bondarenko, a panelist at the Ukraine Summit claims this is more totalizing under Putin.
During the glasnost era, Soviet Russia embraced openness and humanitarian aspects of the civilized Western world. Putin has nefariously managed to transform Russia into an uncivilized terrorist state.
Russia feigns respect for human civility, a reflection of Putin’s Russian culture. Both Ukraine and America value human life, in stark contrast to Russia.
A glaring manifestation of Russia’s violent culture stems from images of Ukrainians tortured by Russian captors. Russia returned the body of Ukrainian Journalist Victoria Roshchyna with grisly wounds, gouged eyes and organs missing to conceal war crimes. About 95% of Ukrainian soldiers report being tortured by Russia. Many are returned barely alive, resembling a skeleton with skin. Shockingly, many Russians idolize Joseph Stalin, who murdered more civilians than Hitler.
Kremlin accusations of Russophobia by Westerners represent the height of hypocrisy. Russia is the most xenophobic, terrorist country: 183,000 war crimes in Ukraine, tortured Crimean Tartars, 600 bombed churches, dozens of priests killed, farm animals killed for pleasure, and a kindergarten recently bombed .
The Ukraine Action Summit revealed a Yale report detailing the plight of 20,000-plus kidnapped Ukrainian children. Russia has more than 200 sites where kids are forced into Russification or militarization programs. Most suffer brainwashing torture, while 10% suffer violence.
The Washington protest sparked the interest of British journalist Caolan Robertson. In an interview with TV host Natalia Lutsenko, he states that “Russia has weaponized its culture for a long time.” Russian culture is a spoof typically appropriated from others and surreptitiously masking a hidden agenda to lure Western support or sympathy.
Looking toward the future, Robertson issued an ominous warning that Russia’s propaganda is far superior to America and Britain’s ability to counteract it. As Russia ramps up its AI agenda, Washington must reprioritize this critical global security vulnerability or face ominous geopolitical consequences.
The views expressed in this opinion article are the author’s and not necessarily those of Kyiv Post.