The term "Russophobia," as used by Russian politicians, serves as an instrument of disinformation, intended to construct an image of Russia as a persecuted nation. The objective is to portray Russia as a country surrounded by enemies, acting solely in self-defence.
In late July 2025, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs published a list of politicians accused of using “hate speech” and Russophobic rhetoric towards Russia.
The criteria used by Russian Foreign Ministry officials in compiling this list, which includes politicians from Europe and one US senator, remain unclear.
According to the Russian Foreign Ministry’s website: “Contrary to and in violation of the UN General Assembly resolution ‘Promoting interreligious and intercultural dialogue and tolerance in the context of combating hate speech,’ representatives of the Western political establishment and the Kyiv regime compete each year in their Russophobic zeal in public statements and appearances. Practically every day, ‘hate speech’ is openly used against Russia and its peoples. This section highlights the most flagrant examples of such hateful statements.”
What constitutes this “hate speech”? Support for Ukraine and claims that Russia is an aggressor and not a democratic state.
The term “Russophobia,” as used by Russian politicians, serves as an instrument of disinformation, intended to construct an image of Russia as a persecuted nation. The objective is to portray Russia as a country surrounded by enemies, acting solely in self-defence. This narrative also aims to misinform by suggesting that sanctions against Russia are an expression of hatred rather than a response to Russian aggression. Furthermore, it is a manipulation aimed at equating criticism of Russian state policy with “hatred towards the Russian people.” As Putin stated in September 2022, “The West has always colonised. The West believes that even its sins must be accepted by others. Western Russophobia is nothing more than racism.”
“Russian media and politicians frequently use the term “Russophobia” to describe what they perceive as irrational hostility. This is a favourite phrase of figures such as the Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. It is worth emphasising that the term “Russophobia” is used by Russian politicians when they are
confronted with criticism of the Russian government. According to them, criticism of the Kremlin’s policies is an irrational phenomenon, stemming from prejudice against the Russian people. Russian media propaganda often depicts Russia as a victim of international conspiracies, which can lead to the perception of foreign criticism as a form of prejudice or even Russophobia,” as highlighted by Professor Marek Melnyk in his article Poles are not Russophobes.
It is important not to forget that “Russophobia” constitutes an element within the Russian legal system. In December 2024, the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, signed a decree enacting the “Strategy for Counteracting Extremism in the Russian Federation”. The document defines Russophobia as a “hostile, prejudiced attitude toward Russian citizens, the Russian language, and Russian culture, including aggressive actions by individuals or political forces, as well as discriminatory measures taken by governments of states unfriendly to Russia.”
The newly published list includes statements by several politicians, among them Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski.
Tusk earned his place on the blacklist for saying: “War, geopolitical uncertainty, and a new arms race started by Putin mean that Europe has no choice. Europe must be ready for this race, and Russia will lose it just as the Soviet Union did 40 years ago. From today, Europe is arming itself more smartly and more quickly than Russia.”
Radosław Sikorski was added for observing that: “It is because of the Russian threat that Poland joined NATO. Russia has not been able to win for three years. The NATO countries plus Japan are twenty times richer. I do not believe that Russia is currently capable of defeating the Alliance.”
What exactly is “Russophobic” about these statements? Only the Kremlin knows.
Dmitry Peskov, the Russian president’s press secretary, certainly knows. He is responsible for making the following absurd and false claim:
“Poland is now simply dominated by Russophobia. They hate us—hate us like crazy. Everyone. Everyone is a victim. They’ve been brainwashed, completely possessed. They’re ready to spend their whole lives hating Russians. Sooner or later it will pass, like a common cold, but unfortunately now the situation is what it is.””
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