Ultranationalist Patriotic Opposition in Russia During the Russo-Ukrainian War: Framing Strategies of the Club of Angry Patriots

Abstract

In recent years, the evolution of nationalism in Russia has been marked by a dual dynamic: while some factions have aligned with Putin’s government, others have opposed it. In addition, Russian nationalists have been divided on the issue of Russia’s war on Ukraine since 2014 (Holzer, Laryš, and Mareš 2019). This article focuses on the segment of Russian nationalists that supports Russia’s war on Ukraine but opposes Putin’s regime. More narrowly, it elaborates on the discussion platform Club of Angry Patriots ( KRP ) created in April 2023. The KRP united a considerable array of Russian nationalists from different sides of the political spectrum. This article analyses the KRP’s framing strategies to trace how the movement established itself and gained supporters. The KRP framed Putin’s regime as grossly incompetent, loyal to the West, and incurring a deep internal crisis in Russia comparable to the worst political crises in Russia’s history. The KRP framed themselves as a part of civil society, competent to overtake many functions of the Russian government and nip the crisis in the bud. Everybody with personal integrity and concern for the country was framed as an “angry patriot” and mobilised by the rationale to prevent the beloved country’s dismemberment.