The Role of Russian Internet Memes in Resisting Putin’s Regime and His War on Ukraine
Journal: Slovo
Year: 2025

Can laughter serve as a form of opposition to war? This article investigates the role and significance of humor in post-February 2022 Russia, with a particular emphasis on memes. Oscillating between resistance and compliance, this internet phenomenon has demonstrated the capacity both to mobilize and to hinder societal opposition to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. The article begins by theorizing the potentially “virtuous” effects of memes, as well as their inherent limitations. It then ana