“Kyiv regime,” “junta,” “neo-Nazis,” “ethnic Jew”: discursive derogation of Ukrainian authorities and enemy-other constructions in Vladimir Putin’s speeches

Abstract

In this paper, the author analyzes the discursive strategies of derogating Ukrainian authorities used by Vladimir Putin and their persuasive impact on shaping public opinion and social cognition. Using ideological discourse analysis, she investigates Putin’s tactics for reinforcing negative attitudes towards the “Kyiv regime” in his speeches since 2014. Focusing on derogatory labelling, semantic implications, and pragmatic implicatures, this paper outlines Putin’s discursive devaluing and dehumanizing of the Ukrainian authorities, justifying, first, the annexation of Crimea and, eight years later, the invasion and war in Ukraine. The analysis aims to reveal the persuasive potential of derogatory language with its semantic manipulation and capacity to format public opinion and social cognition, contributing to the categorization of “the out-group” as an “enemy-other.” It is crucial not only for legitimizing certain policies but also for constructing collective self-identity. Revealing a deliberate shift from subtle insinuations to pronounced adversarial portrayals over time, the conflictive othering of Ukrainian authorities continues to evolve.

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