Slaidiņš: “Russian world” is the ideology the Kremlin uses to justify its war on Ukraine
Major Jānis Slaidiņš of Latvia's National Armed Forces told TV24 that the “Russian world” ideology is used to justify Russian influence and the war against Ukraine. He also sharply criticised ideologist Aleksandr Dugin.
Russia's war against Ukraine is not only a fight over territory: it is accompanied by an ideology that denies Ukraine's right to exist as an independent state and tries to justify aggression. This was discussed on the TV24 programme “Aktuālais par karadarbību Ukrainā” (“Latest on the hostilities in Ukraine”) by Jānis Slaidiņš, a major in Latvia's National Armed Forces (NBS) and an officer of the Home Guard (Zemessardze) staff. He focused on the so-called “Russian world”, which the Kremlin uses as one of its ideological tools to justify its influence beyond Russia's borders.
More than a cultural term
Slaidiņš explained that the “Russian world” is not merely a cultural or linguistic notion. It is an ideological and geopolitical concept built on the idea of Russia as a distinct civilisation with its own historical mission. Its reach is extended to people outside Russia who speak Russian, belong to the Russian cultural sphere or are spiritually tied to Moscow. Russia uses this link to justify interference in other countries, citing the protection of compatriots.
Another important element is messianism – the belief that Russia has a special mission to save or transform the world. The programme also drew parallels with Nazi ideology, and Slaidiņš agreed that similarities can be seen.
Dugin's statements
Slaidiņš turned to Russian ideologist Aleksandr Dugin, who is influential and close to the Kremlin. In one interview, Dugin claimed that Russians love and respect Ukrainians, yet are at the same time forced to kill them in order to achieve a higher goal and become one whole again. Slaidiņš said such statements reveal the true nature of the ideology. He described Dugin as a Russian Nazi and was especially harsh in assessing the “Russian world” idea itself.
Slaidiņš stressed the importance of Ukraine's fight not only for its own independence but also for wider European security. “That is why Ukraine is fighting, and we must be grateful that they are there,” he said.
