“The Last White Country”: Mapping the Far-Right Ideology in Russia during the Full-Scale Invasion of Ukraine

While government crackdown on far-right groups that did not align with the Kremlin following the annexation of Crimea resulted in several waves of fragmentation, the Russian far-right has maintained notable characteristics that are significant in the context of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine since 2022. For instance, unlike most far-right groups in the US and Europe, the Russian far-right often co-opts Islamist ideology in their anti-Western attitude. The anti-Western discourse within the movement is also varied, with particular attention to its apprehension toward perceived threats such as “Geyropa” (i.e. Gay Europe), evolving ethical norms, and feminism. While there has been a shift to the right in the Russian state rhetoric, some aspects of the far-right discourse still remain illegal within the Russian public space, so the main “digital public square” has moved to Telegram with some smaller communities remaining on VKontakte. By scrutinising the far-right debates online, this article provides a comprehensive understanding of far-right movements in Russia, contributing to the broader discourse on far-right ideologies and their global manifestations, especially in the context of Russia’s war against Ukraine.