Authors

Discussion

The Russo-Ukrainian war has sparked many speculations and debates around ethnic minorities of Russia being sent to the war in greater numbers and dying in greater numbers than ethnic Russians. Most observers agree that this is because some ethnic republics of Russia happen to be the poorest ones (just by chance). However, this explanation implicitly suggests that economic incentives are crucial for participation in the war on behalf of Russia. This paper shows how this overlap between ethnicity and economic inequality works in relation to the war beyond economic explanation and unveils specific power relations that force vulnerable groups to agree to die. It argues that intersectionality of vulnerabilities (ruralness, poverty, ethnic minority origin) is also shaped by multi-dimensional spatial mobility. While presenting her arguments, the author also challenges the ways of knowledge production in colonial settings which is especially prominent in the availability and credibility of data on Russian ethnic minorities. Based on digital ethnography, autoethnography, expert interviews, available statistics, and geographical mapping she explains the continued coloniality that still shapes contemporary Russian realities and makes certain groups more vulnerable for forced participation in the war.