Abstract: Since early 2022, the escalating geopolitical conflict between Russia and Ukraine has markedly reshaped perceptions of "Russianness" and prompted heightened securitization measures targeting Russians in their receiving societies. This has resulted in increasing stigmatization and redefinition of Russians' own sense of cultural and linguistic belonging. For many Russians living outside of Russia, post-2022 their "Russianness" has become both a site of tension and a catalyst for introspection: Some distance themselves from Russia, others experience identity conflict and reimagine their place within civic, cultural, and political frames. Across these trajectories, language and culture function as psychological anchors amid polarization. Drawing on indepth interviews conducted in Finland and Latvia, we analyze the changes in Russian identities abroad since February 2022 and explore the reasons behind these shifts, proposing a theory-informed lens with implications for diaspora and identity studies.
Kangaspuro et al. (Tue,) studied this question.