Russian media has described the situation as this: Ukraine wants to be more independent of Russian influence. This means Ukraine is now more nationalistic. The Nazis were also at one point described as Nationalists. Therefore, a country like Ukraine wanting more independence and autonomy = Nationalism = Nazi. Nazism is bad and the Soviet Union fought hard against them in WW2 and has celebrated this victory ever since.

Therefore Ukraine = Nazis.

Obviously this is complete bullshit rife with falsehoods and misinformation. But it has been enough to convince the average gopnik to join the Russian army and fight. Putin gets his loyal army.

The irony here is that Putin being a quasi dictator reminiscent of Hitler makes him much closer to a Nazi than any Ukrainians are.

However, there is that Azoz battalion that are crazy white supremacists. The only reason they've been tolerated on the Ukrainian side is "my enemy's enemy is my friend, type thinking". Once the war is over, they won't be tolerated anymore.

[–] random_character_a@lemmy.world 8 points 11 months ago

For Russians "Nazi" or "Fascist" just translates to enemy of Russia, without any understanding of political background. Thats why in Russia you can see neo-nazis cheering "down with facism"

[–] Ulara@lemmy.world 3 points 11 months ago

As for the Azov battalion - Ruscist propaganda actively exploits racist statements made by Andriy Biletsky in 2006-2010, several years before he founded this battalion. He changed his views and hasn't made a single racist statement since 2014. The Azov battalion included several Jews from the very beginning, so Biletsky isn't an anti-Semite now. And since November 2014, the Azov battalion has a different commander.

So for the Azov battalion, any Nazi leanings are a thing of the distant past: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/04/06/ukraine-military-right-wing-militias/ It's rather Ruscists who tend to project onto others what they hide from themselves.