In the lexicon of Russian propaganda, alongside the words “Ukrofascists”, “nationalists”, and the like, there is the word “Ukronatists”. On the one hand, it is used to fuel the Russian propaganda thesis about the alleged presence of “NATO mercenaries” in Ukraine and their “active participation” in hostilities against Russia on the side of Ukraine. Also, for Russian propagandists, the term Ukronatists can serve as a collective image of the Ukrainian military or simply Ukrainians.

This term is especially popular with the head of the Chechen Republic, Ramzan Kadyrov, who has repeatedly used it in his statements. For example, in response to the drone attack on Groznyi, the capital of Chechnya, on December 12, 2024, Kadyrov wrote on his Telegram channel that “four guardsmen received minor injuries” and promised, allegedly, “for these four wounded people alone, we will lay down 400 Ukronatists”. Another Russian propaganda Telegram channel rightly noted that “who these Ukronatists are and where he was going to look for them, the don [Ramzan Kadyrov - Ed.] did not specify”.

In fact, NATO troops are not involved in the Russian-Ukrainian war. The North Atlantic Alliance's statement “NATO's response to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine”, last updated in October 2024, states that “NATO's actions are defensive, aimed not at provoking conflict, but at preventing it”.

In turn, the term Ukronatists has no logical basis and serves as a justification for unprovoked Russian aggression, as well as an explanation by propagandists to consumers of the products of their activities, why the so-called special operation, which was initially promised to be completed in a few days, has been going on for several years.