Ruscism

Ruscism (also Rashism or Russism, Ukrainian: and Russian: рашизм) also called Russian fascism) – is a neologism and a derogatory term which is used to describe the political ideology and policies of the Russian state under Vladimir Putin. It is used in reference to the Russian state's autocratic political system, ultranationalism and neo-imperialism, militarism, expansionism, corporatism, possibly neofascism, close alignment of church and state, political repression, use of censorship and state propaganda, justifying of several wars in the 21st century and a cult of personality around Putin.

Ruscism is described as based on the imperialist ideas of so-called "Russian world" and "special civilizational mission" of the Russians, such as Moscow as the third Rome, which manifests itself in anti-Westernism and supports regaining former lands by conquest. Ukrainian officials and media often use 'Rashist' to broadly refer to members and backers of the Russian Armed Forces.

The current usage of the term originated in 1995 during the First Chechen War, but it became more prevalent after the Russo-Georgian and Russo-Ukrainian wars, and it became especially prevalent during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.