War and Fantasy: Russian Aggression in Ukraine and Male Fantasy Narratives

Since Russia commenced its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, people throughout the world have been asking the question: what are Russian soldiers fighting for? What forces drive men to pack their bags and go to Ukraine, leaving everything behind?

In this presentation, Mariia Kurbak will highlight one of the most critical aspects of soldiers' motivation - fantasy. She has examined dozens of Russian combatants' memoirs, notes, poems, songs, and social media blogs and discovered the hidden fantasy narratives about Russia, Ukraine, and the world that guide men in their desire to go off to war. These findings shed new light on how Russian soldiers' consciousness and behavior are influenced by fantasy narratives that draw on feelings of pride, shame, humiliation, vulnerability, and insecurity.