Now my impression is anyone who is a victim of Russian propaganda can be called a vatnik despite the article saying the word is used mostly in Russia.

    • tal@lemmy.today
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      18 hours ago
      $ whois -H vatnik.ml
      Domain Name: vatnik.ml
      The queried object does not exist: No Object Found
      >>> Last update of WHOIS database: 2025-12-29T00:29:55.249Z <<<
      $
      

      vatnik.ml isn’t registered, so in theory you could register it and set up the domain to go to a webserver that proxies for whatever domain you want.

      • greenbelt@lemy.lol
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        14 hours ago

        I agree. At first Vatnik was only used for lower- and uneducated-classes and low ranking meat, wearing cotton-jackets. Now Vatniks can be even billionaires and the elites of a society, like Musk and Peter Thiel.

    • Tollana1234567@lemmy.today
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      9 hours ago

      yes, they often say the typical russian buzzwords, or speechs. always with western, or this or that enemy. or EU needs to “stand alone”

  • toofpic@lemmy.world
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    18 hours ago

    Yes, “vatnik” is indeed a carpet term for people who believe (or are made to believe) the idea of a “Strong and awesome Russia that is in it’s right to show everyone else how to live”
    The studded jacket with that name was a usual winter outfit of Soviet farm workers and such. So it works as a symbol of a self-righteous uneducated working class person from an authoritarian country.

  • Potti@lemmy.world
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    12 hours ago

    Did you know that there are videogames made by Vatniks? If you want to check those out (and get a bit of Background Information on some Vatniks) I recommend the Youtube Chanel Warlocracy

  • ChicoSuave@lemmy.world
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    15 hours ago

    If Vatnik exists why call them tankies? For the Chinese vatniks? Can we broaden the definition to broadly include people who uncritically buys into propaganda?

    • agamemnonymous@sh.itjust.works
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      15 hours ago

      “Tankie” originates with Soviets using tanks to stop rebellion in Hungary, and refers to those who condone using authoritarian violence to suppress dissidents. They frequently overlap, but they’re distinct concepts.

    • Deceptichum@quokk.au
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      10 hours ago

      Because they’re different things?

      And we already have the word tankie, with 75 years of history behind it.