Glossary
This list is by no means extensive and will likely keep growing. Language is morphing and changes to reflect the world around us.
Bolt tightening (закручивание гаек)
The process of erasure of political and personal freedoms in Putin’s Russia. This is one of the central themes of this blog.
Cosmonauts (космонавты)
OMON or the Russian riot police, nicknamed thus because of the shape of the helmets they wear. Known for their brutality, they are tasked with breaking up political protests in Russia. Today, they are busier than ever, as many Russian people — especially young people — are protesting against the war in Ukraine on a weekly basis. Recently, I met a young Russian man whose back had been broken by OMON during one such protest against the invasion of Crimea in 2016.
Men in grey (люди в сером)
People who are employed by the authorities to remove anti-war graffiti and messaging (which has been made illegal in Russia).
Mordor (Мордор)
Putin’s modern Russia. Back in 2016, around the time of the annexation of Crimea, Google infamously autotranslated ‘Russia’ to ‘Mordor’. This was likely the result of the AI data that had already included joke comparisons between the two. Since then, the meme has really caught on, and many Ukrainians and Russian dissidents use the terms ‘Russia’ and ‘Mordor’ interchangeably.
Orcs (орки)
Inhabitants of Mordor. Russians who follow Putinist ideology and support the war in Ukraine.
Putinoids (путиноиды)
As above, supporters of Putin.
Rashists (рашисты)
A portmanteau of ‘Russians’ and ‘Fascists’, i.e. Russian supporters of the invasion of Ukraine.
Zediks (Zедики)
The brainwashed Russians who believe that the “military operation in Ukraine” is fair and just and is “denazifying” the country. The letter Z has been used by Putin’s propaganda machine to incite patriotism and support for the Russian troops in Ukraine.
Zombies (Zомби, with the Latin letter Z)
As above.
