Context you need to know
The map of Russian colonial crimes (1911–2023) from "Russian Colonialism," the illustrated book by Ukrainian journalist Maksym Eristavi about 48 recent Russian invasions of other countries. Photo: DTF Magazine
Many people in the West might be surprised by this statement: Russia is a colonial empire. It doesn't matter how eagerly Russia has tried to deflate or deny this statement, or apply its "de-colonizer" rhetoric to differentiate itself from the Western analogs, but it is a fact. While colonial empires in the West, like England, Spain, and the Netherlands, mostly decolonized, Russia stayed intact, keeping most of its neighbors under occupation and assuming "imperial innocence."
When the Russian Empire collapsed following the First World War and the communist revolution, many nations, including Ukraine, declared their independence. Most of them lost it when the Red Army of Bolshevik Russia recaptured them, creating the USSR — the occupying empire disguised as a union. Fifteen nations, including Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova, announced the restoration of their independence in the 1990s after the Soviet Union collapsed. Others, like Tatarstan and Ichkeria, could not leave the Russian Empire and repel the aggression.
Invaded by Russia: Ukrainian teacher Olena Kurilo was injured after a Russian strike on an apartment building in Chuhuiv, Kharkiv region, Ukraine, on February 25, 2022. Photo: Wolfgang Schwan/Anadolu Agency
The Russian way of enslaving the nation was the same in all cases. First, invade and wage war. Second, kill, deport, and starve, destroying the culture and appropriating what's good left. Third, persecute, imprison, and execute intellectuals, elite, and resistance members. Finally, Russify and inculcate disgust in the invaded survivors for their own language as uncivilized and uncultured and the belief that Russian culture and language are "great" and "human." In case the nation broke free, rewind and repeat.
All the countries we'll discuss here experienced "the Russian world" firsthand. Some are still trying to get rid of that leech-like monster, which doesn't seem to get lost. Our list here is just the tip of a Russian imperial iceberg and doesn't reflect the ten times more considerable number of affected nations.
1. Georgia
Invaded by Russia: Ministers of the Democratic Republic of Georgia in the 1920s. Photo: National Archives of Georgia
After breaking free from the control of the Russian metropole, Georgia rose as an independent democratic republic in the early 20th century, but not for long. In 1922, Russia invaded it again, making it a part of its "union." Despite years of oppression against their language and culture and the killing of their intellectuals, Georgians didn't give up and fought for their liberty in protests in the 1950s, 70s, and 80s. One April week in 1989 changed everything: Soviet Russian forces killed 21 Georgian peaceful protestors. After that, "the Soviet Union" was no more, and Georgia restored its independence in 1991.
Invaded by Russia: A Georgian man cries, holding the body of a loved one after a Russian bombardment on August 9, 2008, in Gori, Georgia. Photo: Gleb Garanich/Reuters
Was it the glorious end of the struggle? Unfortunately, no. First, Russia instigated the civil war in Georgia, providing weapons to separatists in 1992 and taking the region of Abkhazia under its control as a pseudo-republic. Sixteen years later, it used the territory to launch an invasion under the pretext of "protecting the people of Southern Ossetia" from Georgia, which culminated in a five-day war, killing 224 civilians and injuring 547.
Invaded by Russia: The map of Georgian territories occupied by Russia. Image: Gigi Kadagishvili
To this day, Russia occupies Abkhazia and Southern Ossetia, which is 20% of the Georgian territory. Since then, Georgian authorities reported Russia's "creeping occupation" of the villages bordering the seized regions. Relating to the Ukrainian experience, Georgians have supported Ukraine throughout the years, being one of the first nations to recognize Ukraine's independence, create a legion within the Ukrainian armed forces to fight against the Russian onslaught and provide shelter for Ukrainian refugees.
2. Moldova
Invaded by Russia: Residents of the Moldovan city of Bendery pass by destroyed military equipment during the fighting in the town in 1992. Photo: Eldorado Butrim
Moldova, or part of its territory, has been under Russian imperial rule on and off since the 19th century. Even when Moldova declared independence in 1918 and later merged with Romania, the Russians still had claims on its territory. Finally, when the Soviet regime and Nazi Germany signed a pact to divide Europe in 1939, Romania was forced to surrender the Moldovan territory to the USSR, which created the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic.
Invaded by Russia: The map of the Russian-occupied region of Transnistria. Photo: Aljazeera
Like Ukraine and Georgia, Moldova restored its sovereignty in 1991 — a decision Russia didn't respect. With the help of the 14th Russian army stationed there, the Moldovan region of Transnistria announced its sovereignty. After the onset of the war, the breakaway "republic" came under Russia's immediate control. Now, it's an isolated gray zone that no government or the UN recognized.
Invaded by Russia: After signing Moldova's application to join the EU, Moldovan President Maia Sandu, center, PM Natalia Gavrilita, right, and Speaker of Parliament Igor Grosu. Photo: Twitter
When Russian occupied the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea and started its war in Donbas, Moldova's security was under threat again. The so-called authorities of Transnistria asked Russia to annex the Moldovan territory and become a stage for the invasion of Ukraine's Odesa region. Since Russia started its full-scale war in 2022, Moldova has repeatedly stated that the aggressor wants to attempt to overthrow its pro-Western government.
3. Qazaqstan (Kazakhstan)
Invaded by Russia: Qazaqstan on the world map. Photo: DW
The history of Russia's oppression of Kazakhstan or Qazaqstan — which is the preferred spelling, as it's not a transliteration from Russian — is very similar to that of Ukraine. The world's ninth-largest country was first occupied and colonized by the Russian Empire and then by its Soviet successor after the short-lived independent government. During the 1930s, their elite and intellectuals were also persecuted and executed as part of the Great Purge, and 1.5 million Qazaq people were starved in the man-made famine of 1930–1933, also known as the Asharshylyk.
The photo documents Asharshylyk, the man-made famine, recognized the genocide of the Qazaq people. Photo: e-history.kz
The USSR government made the Central Asian country the "landfill" for labor camps (the Gulag) and destroyed cultures, using it as the location for deportees, like Crimean Tatars, expelled from their homeland Crimea, and "enemies of the people," meaning convicts who were against the totalitarian regime. The Soviet power also endangered the health of locals and their environment, using their land as an atomic bomb site for hundreds of nuclear tests.
Thousands of Qazaq people attended a rally in the city of Almaty, Qazaqstan, on March 6, 2022. Photo: bizmedia.kz
Since Qazaqstan declared independence in 1991, it has struggled to eliminate Russian influence. The country is part of the military alliance with Russia and has been named an authoritarian regime by independent studies. Though Qazaqstan is far from a liberal democracy, its government still supported Western sanctions against Russia and sent humanitarian aid to Ukraine when Russia unleashed its full-scale war. After that, threats that northern Qazaqhstan could be next after Ukraine ensued from Russian officials, namely former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev.
4. Baltics states: Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania
Invaded by Russia: Map of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Photo: Encyclopedia Britannica
Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania are three distinct neighboring nations with unique cultures and languages but very similar histories. All three declared their sovereignty in 1918 following the First World War and had to fight to preserve their independence in wars against Soviet Russia and other adversaries. All three nations—sometimes in cooperation with each other—successfully repelled the onslaught and established civil institutions and rights for their people.
Invaded by Russia: Citizens of the Baltic countries were sent to the Gulag in June 1941. Photo: Wikimedia
Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania enjoyed their liberty until the two most horrific regimes — Nazi Germany and USSR — decided they were entitled to divide Europe to their liking. After the dictatorships signed the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, Russia invaded the Baltic states in 1940, after which the Stalin regime imprisoned the presidents of Estonia and Latvia and started political repressions and mass deportations. Around 130,000 citizens of the three countries were accused of being "anti-Soviet elements" and sent to far parts of the "union," while ethnic Russians were resettled to homes emptied for them.
Invaded by Russia: Unarmed civilians defend the Lithuanian Press House from Soviet Army paratroopers, January 1991. Photo: Paulius Lileikis/ Lithuanian Central State Archives
During years of repression and Russification, Estonians, Latvians, and Lithuanian partisans, called "Forest Brothers," waged a guerrilla war against the Soviet self-proclaimed authorities till 1956 to take their countries back. When the Soviet Union collapsed, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania regained their independence. Russia, of course, claimed their territories belonged to it and even attempted to stage a coup d'état in Lithuania, known as January Events, killing 14 civilians and injuring 140.
Left to right: Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda, Polish President Andrzej Duda, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, now-former Latvian President Egils Levits, and Estonian President Alar Karis. Photo: Jakub Szymczuk/KPRP
Since 1991, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania stood firm against the Russian aggression, becoming NATO members. Since Russia started its full-scale war against Ukraine, they have been threatened by Russian propaganda as "next ones in line." They've been one of the most vocal supporters of Ukraine as it is repelling the Russian invasion.
