The Hill: The war against Ukraine is “not only Putin’s business, but also a conscious choice of millions of Russians.”

“In 1547, Ivan IV (the Terrible) played one of the gold parties in history. He crowned himself as a ‘king of Rus”. At first, Europe did not succumb to this bait – diplomats, travelers, and scientists continued to refer to this kingdom as Muscovy – we see this name on the maps and in the manuscripts of those years.

The name ‘Rus” was not inherited, but stolen from Kyiv.

Many in the West want to believe that Putin is the problem.

And Russians are often perceived as either passive victims of state propaganda or unintentional participants in the horror that their government inflicts.

But this is not the case, as stated in a column by the American political publication The Hill.

Not only Putin: why the Russians themselves support the war

The West is accustomed to blaming only one person – Putin – for all of Russia’s crimes.

But, as noted by the American publication The Hill, such simplification obscures the true roots of Russian aggression.

“Russians are often portrayed as victims of propaganda, who simply do not know the truth. But they themselves create this propaganda and willingly consume it,” writes Andrew Chakhoyan, the author of the article and scientific director at the University of Amsterdam.

Myths that fuel Russian aggression

For decades, Russians have been living in a world built on historical myths.

1. Ukraine is ‘Nemostrana’

In 2021, Putin published a 5,000-word essay in which he argued that Ukrainians, as a nation, do not exist.

“Ukraine is an artificial project of the West, and Russians and Ukrainians are one people,” he stated.

This narrative is shared by millions of Russians and justifies their aggression.

“Russians do not perceive the independence of Ukraine as a reality. They believe that it is ‘their territory’ and that they have the right to dictate its future,” writes The Hill.

2. Russia – the ‘Western victim’

The Kremlin has convinced Russians for decades that the whole world wants to destroy Russia.

“We are surrounded by enemies who want to enslave us! NATO is a threat!” These slogans are repeated on Russian television.

But The Hill explains that, in fact, Russia itself is constantly attacking its neighbors.

“Since 1991, Russia has unleashed wars against Chechnya, Georgia, Ukraine, and threatened Moldova and the Baltic states. It has no peaceful past, only an aggressive present.”

3. The ‘Crucified Boy’ and a culture of hatred

One of the main symbols of Russian propaganda is the myth of the “crucified boy.”

In 2014, Russian media launched the false story that the Ukrainian military had supposedly ‘crucified a boy in Slavyansk.’

“This fake was so absurd that the West ridiculed it. But the Russians believed it because they wanted to believe it,” writes The Hill.

This myth illustrates how easily state propaganda can foster hatred.

“Russians do not impose violence – they themselves crave it,” says Chakhoyan.

However, the story of the crucified boy was not just a piece of disgusting propaganda in action, as the newspaper notes.

“It demonstrated how the state, the media, the intelligentsia, and ‘ordinary Russians’ interact in a vicious cycle of colonization, from which neither the rulers nor the ruled can escape.”

Russia as an empire: why it cannot live without war

Historically, Russia views itself as an empire that cannot exist without the conquest of its neighbors.

The author of the article suggests that since the Crimean War, Moscow has had many opportunities to shed its imperial identity, but has never taken them. Unlike Spain, Portugal, or Belgium, whose former colonies have become independent states, Russia has consistently perceived its ‘losses’ as temporary.

Even the collapse of the Soviet Union following the humiliation of defeat in Afghanistan did not dismantle this imperial mindset.

The author recalls that the predecessor of Russia, Muscovy, owes its rise in the 13th century to the role it played as a tax collector for the Golden Horde.

In contrast, Kyiv flourished for 600 years as a cultural and political center while Moscow was founded only in 1147.

“Since the 16th century, Moscow has thrived through expansion. It does not know how to build internally – only to take from others,” explains The Hill.

After the collapse of the USSR, the West hoped that Russia would change.

But instead, the Russians viewed the loss of republics as a ‘temporary loss of territory.’

“France let Algeria go, the UK let India go. But Russia has not come to terms with the independence of Ukraine,” notes the publication.

This imperial psychology continues to give rise to new wars time and again.

Collective guilt of Russians: The myth of ‘ordinary people are not to blame’

Western politicians are still hesitant to acknowledge the obvious:

The Russian war against Ukraine enjoys widespread support.

“We want to believe that Russians are hostages of the regime. But in reality, they support the war, justify the crimes, and do not want change,” writes The Hill.

In the book by Jade McGlinn, “Russian War,” evidence is presented that millions of Russians actively support the aggression.

“They do not want to feel guilty. It is easier for them to believe that ‘everything is right.’”

The Hill argues that the West should not search for ‘good Russians’ and must recognize the collective guilt of the entire society.

Conclusion: Russia must lose – otherwise the war will not end

“Russia will not change until it suffers a catastrophic defeat,” writes The Hill.

“This war is not a struggle for territory. It is a struggle for truth. The lies of Russia must be dismantled.”

Key Takeaways

✅ Russians are not just victims of propaganda but conscious participants in aggression.
✅ Russia cannot exist without conquest – its mindset is imperial.
✅ The West should not search for good Russians and must assist Ukraine in achieving victory.

What will happen to Russia after the defeat?

“The Kremlin’s defeat is an opportunity for the whole world. Only this can change the course of history,” states The Hill.

Nanovo – Israeli News continues to analyze Russian aggression and its consequences for Ukraine, Israel, and the world.

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