THE DEPARTMENT OF RUSSIAN STUDIES STATEMENT ON
RUSSIA’S WAR IN UKRAINE
The Department of Russian Studies at St. Olaf College condemns in the strongest possible terms Russia’s continued aggression in Ukraine. We condemn the spurious historical narratives and outright lies that President Putin and his allies continue to use in their efforts to justify this horrific act of aggression. We stand in heartfelt solidarity with our Ukrainian colleagues, friends, and families. We also stand with Russians who deplore and oppose this flagrant violation of Ukrainian sovereignty and international law.
The War in Ukraine has brought about an urgent and long-overdue reassessment of how we teach Russian language and area studies in the United States. We support efforts to decolonize our field. We support a Russian World that is culturally and ethnically diverse, inclusive, peaceful, and united by the Russian language, rather than Russian power.
260 million Russian speakers worldwide
Shares borders with 14 countries and spans 11 time zones
Home to the deepest lake in the world, Lake Baikal
75% of Russians live in urban centers
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