by Mark Temnycky
October 7, 2024
The Hill
When Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022, the Kremlin claimed that it was coming to aid ethnic Russians and Russian speakers in Ukraine. It stated that it would seek to take what it deemed to be historically Russian cities in Ukraine.
From Odesa, Kherson and Mariupol in the south to Kharkiv, Luhansk and Donetsk in the east, Russia said it would protect ethnic “comrades.” Russia claimed the Ukrainian government was persecuting these groups and that Vladimir Putin’s legions would save them.
What has transpired is anything but what Russia said it would do to aid ethnic Russians.
Over the past two and a half years, Russia has committed thousands of atrocities in Ukraine and targeted ethnic Ukrainians and other minority groups. The invading forces bombed historical sites, cultural centers, religious sites and civilian areas, forcibly deported various ethnic communities and tortured and murdered many Ukrainian citizens.
Ethnic Russians and Russian speakers within Ukraine were also targeted.
For example, the Russian Federation launched numerous bombardments on Odesa, a city with a significant Russian-speaking population. It intentionally targeted civilian sites and dozens of Ukrainian citizens have died. These acts immensely impacted native Russian-speaking Odeasans, so much so that many have switched to speaking Ukrainian.
In the eastern city of Kharkiv, another “historically Russian-speaking city,” Russia launched deadly offensives in the spring of 2022 and 2024. Nearly 200 Ukrainian civilians were killed during these attacks. Russia launched a bombardment on the center of the city, targeting historical and cultural areas.
Meanwhile, during the occupation of the southern city of Kherson, Russian forces inhabited the streets. Russian soldiers tortured Ukrainian citizens and members of various religions faced persecution.
Then, there was Mariupol, a city that was once home to 450,000 residents. Now, it has been completely flattened. Tens of thousands of Ukrainian citizens were killed during those Russian attacks.
These are just a few examples of the thousands of incidents where the Russians have captured, tortured and killed Ukrainian citizens, including ethnic Russians and Russian speakers. Russia’s acts in Ukraine do not suggest that it is looking to protect ethnic Russians. Instead, it seeks to destroy Ukraine and its citizens, regardless of their ethnicity and language.
Russia’s disregard for the lives of ethnic Russians and Russian speakers does not end in Ukraine. For example, many ethnic Russians and Russian speakers in Central Asia have faced similar difficulties thanks to the Kremlin.
During the early 2000s, Turkmenistan announced it was ending its dual citizenship law. This meant roughly 100,000 Russians would be forced to choose Russian or Turkmen citizenship.
While thousands of ethnic Russians were distressed by this announcement, the Kremlin did not support them. Instead, it assisted Turkmenistan with this decision. Putin even signed the decree ending dual citizenship with Turkmenistan President Saparmurat Niyazov.
It was later learned that Turkmenistan had signed a long-term gas agreement with Russia, suggesting that the Kremlin was seeking to make a profit while abandoning ethnic Russians.
Meanwhile, there has been a push in Tajikistan for citizens to abandon their Russian ties. During the early 2000s, the government of Tajikistan pressured citizens to “abandon Russian-style names.” In addition, the government of Tajikistan previously suggested abolishing Russian as a language of “interethnic communication” within Tajikistan.
Yet Russia did not invade Tajikistan, nor did it rush to the aid of ethnic Russians and Russian speakers in that country. Instead, this Central Asian country remains a large trading partner with Putin’s Russia and maintains favorable ties with it.
Similarly, the government in Kyrgyzstan has sought to distance itself from ethnic Russians and Russian speakers. Kyrgyzstan President Sadyr Japarov has previously called on citizens to be suspicious of ethnic minorities within their country. More recently, the government of Kyrgyzstan has advised its citizens not to travel to Russia.
This has not negatively swayed Russia’s opinion on Kyrgyzstan, however. Instead, Putin and his inner circle continue to support and endorse President Japarov as nearly half of Kyrgyzstan’s trade exports are sent to Russia.
Finally, the Kremlin has not supported Russians and Russian speakers at home.
Last month, Ukraine launched an offensive into the Russian province of Kursk. Within a matter of weeks, Ukrainian forces had captured more than 1,000 square kilometers of Russian territory. During these events, residents in Kursk called on Russia for help. But Russia has hesitated to aid its citizens. Instead, the Kremlin is invested and preoccupied with its failed invasion of Ukraine.
These events suggest that the Russian government has never been truly invested or interested in the well-being of ethnic Russians and Russian speakers. Instead, it has sacrificed the lives of these individuals for financial or territorial gains.
Given what has developed in these countries, particularly in Ukraine, ethnic Russians and Russian speakers should take note of the Kremlin’s actions. It may even save them.
Mark Temnycky is an accredited freelance journalist covering Eurasian affairs and a nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center.