Sorry To Be Ignorant But......

[Stargazer]

why does Putin call Ukrainians Nazis, or at least some of them? What is a Nazi anyway? I thought it was only the name for German extremists under the Nazi party. Please tell me where to place this question as it is not chatter.

[dannyk13]

Saying that they were Nazis was part of Putin's excuse for invading.

[roopower]

President Zelensky is Jewish so very unlikely to be a nazi.

[davebro]

Nazi has become a term commonly used for far-right extremists. There are probably a few in Ukraine & in a lot of other countries. As said above - just an excuse to invade.

[ToraToraTora]

well here is the wikipedia page
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazism
Putin claiming he is "denazifying" is frankly ridiculous, Zelenskyy is a jew for a start, he lost family in the holocaust so I doubt there is anyone less likely to be a Nazi. If anyone is displaying Nazi traits it's Putin.

[ladybirder]

No need to be sorry Stargazer, we're used to you now;-)

[ichkeria]

Ukraine does have a controversial regiment of its National Guard, known as the Azov Battalion, based in Mariupol.
This group has its origins in ultra football fans from Ukraine (Kharkiv) and ironically enough Russia, but it became a vital part of the fight against separatists in 2014 in Donbas.
The group is thought to be responsible for the assssination of some of the generals Russia has lost.
When it comes to far right groups though, Russia could show the world a thing or two.

[barry1010]

Surely Nazi is just a shortened form or national socialist?

[Mozz71]

As has been said, it's just Putin's excuse for invading Ukraine. It's just a part of his indoctrination of the Russian people to believe his actions are valid.

[Mozz71]

Originally maybe Barry, but I think we can all agree that it's taking on a meaning beyond those origins now.

[pastafreak]

Maybe try Society and Culture next time.
Its'depressing enough without being reminded of tyrants everywhere.

[Stargazer]

Will do.

[jourdain2]

Probably to bring public opinion onto his side. Memories will still be strong of the Nazi advance in W.W.2.