Pro-Russian Propaganda

Russophilia (literally love of Russia or Russians) is admiration and fondness of Russia (including the era of the Soviet Union and/or the Russian Empire), Russian history and Russian culture. The antonym is Russophobia. In the 19th Century, Russophilia was often linked to variants of Pan-Slavism, since the Russian Empire and the autonomous Serbia were the only two slav-associated sovereign states during and after Spring of Nations.

Russophilia in Europe

American author Robert Alexander wrote: "I love Russians for their dramatic, emotional nature. They're not afraid to love, not afraid to get hurt, not afraid to exaggerate or act impulsively."

Russophilia in Serbia

Russia is hugely popular in Serbia, and Serbs have always traditionally seen Russia as a close ally due to shared Slavic heritage, culture, and Orthodox faith. According to European Council on Foreign Relations, 54% of Serbians see Russia as an ally. In comparison, 11% see European Union as an ally, and only 6% see United States in the same manner. During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, a pro-Russian rally was held in Belgrade, attended by 4,000 people.

The Serbian village of Putinovo's inhabitants renamed their village in honor of Vladimir Putin. In Belgrade, there are the Russian Center of Science and Culture and the Hotel Moskva.

Image:Ruski centar za kulturu i nauku u Beogradu.JPG, Russian Center of Science and Culture (Belgrade)
Image:Dmitry Medvedev in Serbia 20 October 2009-8.jpg, Dmitry Medvedev in National Assembly of Serbia
Image:Ruska crkva, Belgrade.jpg, Russian Orthodox Church in Tašmajdan park, Belgrade
File:Vladimir Putin in Serbia March 2011-34.jpeg, Vladimir Putin at Belgrade's Red Star Stadium in March 2011
File:Vladimir Putin in Serbia March 2011-39.jpeg, Vladimir Putin in front of Cathedral of Saint Sava

Russophilia in Montenegro

Montenegro is also an Eastern Orthodox and Slavic country. There is the Moscow Bridge in Podgorica, and a statue of Russian singer and actor Vladimir Vysotsky next to the bridge. During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, a pro-Russian rally was held in Nikšić.

File:Dva mosta panorama sm.jpg, Moscow Bridge, Podgorica

Russophilia in Ukraine

Following Ukrainian independence in 1991 Ukrainians, mostly in the east and south of the country, voted to a see a more Russophile attitude of the government, ranging from closer economic partnership to full national union. Russia and Ukraine enjoyed especially close economic ties, while the Russophilic political party, the Party of Regions, became the largest party in the Verkhovna Rada in 2006. It would remain a dominant force in Ukrainian politics, until the 2014 Revolution of Dignity. Following the 2014 Russian military intervention in Ukraine, the overall attitude of Ukrainians towards Russia and Russians has become much more negative, with most Ukrainians favoring NATO and European Union membership.

41% of Ukrainians had a "good" attitude towards Russians (42% negatively), while in general 54% of Russians had a positive attitude towards Ukraine, according to an October 2021 of the country's population. As of 2021, there were several parties in Ukraine considered Russophile including the Opposition Platform — For Life, the Opposition Bloc, Our Land, Nashi and the Party of Shariy

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