Kremlin's "Russification" campaign returns against Russia

The so-called "russification" campaign that the Kremlin is trying to carry out in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine is harmful to Russia itself.

This is reported by RBC-Ukraine with reference to the Institute for War Studies.

Analysts note that the Putin regime's actions strengthen pro-nationalist ideology and criticism of national minorities in Russia.

"The war against Ukraine has given the most aggressive media personalities the opportunity to consolidate their ideology and project it both on the Ukrainian people and on non-Slavic minorities in Russia itself. This trend is likely to intensify as the war continues and outlive it, "permeating Russia's domestic space for years to come," the report says.

The experts point out that Russian officials have consistently targeted migrants and ethnic minorities for recruitment and formation of the armed forces, which largely "shifts the military burden of 'Russification' in Ukraine to the communities and individuals who are its targets within the country."

The Institute for War Studies believes that the numerous cases of xenophobia and racism in the Russian Federation illustrate the essence of internal "Russification."

In this context, analysts recalled that the head of the Russian Investigative Committee, Alexander Bastrykin, had previously called for the targeted recruitment of migrants from Central Asia and the Caucasus who had received Russian citizenship, as they have a "constitutional duty to protect the country that accepted them."

Author - Serhii Kolomiets, 13/04/2023