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Vatnik Soup

Vatnik Dictionary

12 Step Program
Recovery program for substance abusers. First developed in the 1930s by Alcoholics Anonymous. A central tenet is an admission that the abuse is outside the individual’s control. Some have criticized the program for having religious undertones.
419 scams
Online fraud scheme promising large amounts of money in return for a small fee. 419 refers to the section of the Nigerian criminal code that deals with fraud. One of the most well-known contemporary versions is the Nigerian prince scam, where a scammer poses as a wealthy individual and promises large sums of money in return for some help.
50 cent army
Derogatory term for an internet commenter allegedly paid by the Chinese government to spread positive news and defend the interests of the state. While actual payment-per-post has been debunked many times, a surge in activity often occurs around national holidays and anniversaries.
9/11 truthers
People unwilling to accept the official narrative about the terrorist attacks carried out by Al-Qaeda against the United States on September 11, 2001. Often centered on perceived holes and unanswered questions in the official story regarding the destruction of the third skyscraper, WTC 7.
Agent provocateur
Someone who incites violence or other illegal activities as a form of entrapment. Often used to describe a clandestine government activity by means of undercover police or paid actors.
Alt-right
Far-right, white nationalist movement with roots in the United States. Although the term is broadly used to describe a wide variety of political views, alt-righters are often driven by identity politics in favour of European Americans and a perceived superior White race. Abbreviation of alternative right.

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Anti-Corruption Foundation
Non-profit organisation founded by Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny in 2011. Has documented systemic corruption within the Russian government. Notable investigations include documentaries about Yury Chaika (Chaika, 2015), Dmitry Medvedev (He Is Not Dimon to You, 2017), and Vladimir Putin (Putin’s Palace, 2019).
Antifa
A person or group actively opposing fascism. Often associated with various far-left groups in Western countries, with a historically strong presence in Germany and the United States. Abbreviation of Antifascist action.
Arab Spring
Anti-government protests and armed rebellions across the Arab world. Started in Tunisia in 2010 and quickly spread to Libya, Egypt, Yemen, Syria, and Bahrain. Resulted in a violent crackdown by governments across the region and was among the catalysts of the civil wars in Libya, Yemen, and Syria.
Azov Battalion
Ukrainian militia formed as a response to the Russian invasion of the Donbas and annexation of Crimea in 2014. Initially led by Ukrainian far-right politician Andriy Biletsky but since incorporated into the command structure of the National Guard of Ukraine as the Azov Regiment. Has been the subject of much controversy due to its association with far-right groups and the use of neo-Nazi symbolism. Often used by the Kremlin to justify its denazification narrative.
Baader-Meinhof
Far-left militant group and terrorist organisation in West Germany. Active from 1970 until 1998. Engaged in bombings, murders, and kidnappings against what they perceived as a fascist German state. Notable leaders were Andreas Baader (1943-1977), Ulrike Meinhof (1934-1976), and Horst Mahler (1936-).
Banderite
Follower of the ultranationalist, antisemitic Ukrainian politician Stepan Bandera (1909-1959), who initially pledged to work with Nazi Germany as the leader of the Organisation of Ukrainian Nationalists to liberate Ukraine from the Soviet Union. Often used in Russian state media as a pejorative description to associate contemporary Ukrainians with Bandera’s policies.
Bernie Bro
Young male supporter of US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders. Often used as a stereotype to describe a hyper-vocal and self-righteous political activist unwilling to compromise. Coined in 2015 by Robinson Meyer in an article for The Atlantic.
Big Lie
Propaganda technique in which a gross distortion or misrepresentation of the truth is deliberately used for political gains. Described by Adolf Hitler as a lie so big that no one would believe that someone “could have the impudence to distort the truth so infamously.” Used by Nazi Germany to perpetuate the myth that Jews were responsible for Germany’s loss in World War I. Often associated with Donald Trump’s baseless claim of the 2020 US presidential election being rigged.

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Blitzkrieg
Military strategy in which a surprise attack is launched using rapid and often overwhelming force concentrated to achieve a decisive breakthrough. Initially used by Western media to describe the successful German invasions of Poland and France during World War II, although never adopted as an official military term by the Wehrmacht.
Brexit
Portmanteau of British exit from the EU. Often used in reference to the 2016 referendum, which saw the United Kingdom vote to leave the European Union, becoming the first and only sovereign country so far to do so. Officially implemented in January 2020.
Brigading
Slang for coordinated voting behaviour aimed at manipulating outcomes on social media. Often used for targeting an opposing community or distorting the results of an online poll.
Budapest Memorandum
Political agreement between Russia, the United States, and the United Kingdom signed in 1994. Comprised of three identical promises to refrain from military or economic coercion against Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine who in turn agreed to remove all Soviet nuclear weapons from their soil.
Buffer State
Sovereign country lying between two or more great powers. In geopolitical theory, buffer states are often seen as a protective barrier, reducing the risk of war or territorial disputes between neighbouring major powers. Often cited examples are Mongolia, Nepal, and Switzerland.
Casus belli
An act or an event that either provokes or is used to justify a war. A famous example was the Serbian refusal to investigate the involvement of government officials in the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand leading to Austria–Hungary declaring war and triggering the outbreak of World War I.
Chechen War
Struggle for independence from the Russian Federation fought in the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria. The First Chechen War (1994-1996) resulted in a humiliating ceasefire for the vastly superior Russian military. Following a 1997 peace treaty, Chechnya became de facto independent until the Second Chechen War (1999-2009) was launched in 1999. The Republic was subsequently reincorporated into Russia and a local puppet government was installed.
Chemtrails
Conspiracy theory that condensation trails from aircraft contain chemical agents that are used by the government for nefarious purposes.
Clickbait
Online text written in a manipulative way to drive pageviews on websites. Often employs sensationalised headlines or false promises.
Community Notes
Fact-checking feature on Twitter/X where users can add context to potentially misleading claims. Originally called Birdwatch but rebranded following Elon Musk’s takeover in 2022.
Convoy protests
2022 series of protests and blockades originating in Canada as a protest against vaccine mandates and COVID-19 restrictions. During the protests, hundreds of trucks formed convoys throughout Canada and finally held a large rally in Ottawa. The event also inspired a Finnish spinoff, Convoy Finland, held in February 2022.
Conversion Therapy
Pseudoscientific practice that aims to change an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity. Banned for use on minors in 27 countries around the world as a form of abuse, including Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, and Malta. Illegal in 26 US states.
CPAC
Acronym for Conservative Political Action Conference, a conservative political event held in various countries around the world. The first CPAC took place in 1974 in the US and has since spread to countries like Australia, Brazil, Hungary, and South Korea.
CSTO
Acronym for the Collective Security Treaty Organisation, an intergovernmental alliance comprising six post-Soviet states: Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan. Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Uzbekistan are former members while Armenia is currently considering a withdrawal.
Deep state
A group of people organised within a government and operating outside normal jurisdiction. Often associated with conspiracy theories about intelligence services and clandestine or rogue elements working against the policy of elected officials.
Dirty bomb
Weapon that combines radioactive material with conventional explosives. To date, there has never been a recorded instance of a successful dirty bomb attack.
Doxxing
The act of sharing private information online without consent. Derived from the term “dropping documents (dox)”. Often used as a form of cyber-bullying and harassment.
Dunning–Kruger Effect
The tendency of people with limited competence or knowledge on a subject to overestimate their abilities. First described by social psychologists David Dunning and Justin Kruger in 1999.
Edgelord
A person that intentionally exaggerates opinion with the intent of creating shock or provocation. Often used online to chase internet clout and attention.
False flag
Deceptive attack that disguises the real perpetrator while pinning the blame on someone else. Originally referred to the pirate practice of sailing under a false flag. Often used to describe countries that organise attacks on themselves to achieve political objectives.
Frazzledrip
Conspiracy theory claiming the existence of a snuff film showing Hillary Clinton sexually assaulting and murdering a young girl, drinking her blood, and wearing her skin as a mask. Popular among QAnon supporters and online grifters.
G7
Abbreviation of the Group of Seven, an informal forum of advanced economies consisting of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Formerly the Group of Eight, Russia was indefinitely suspended in 2014 following its illegal annexation of Crimea.
Golden passport
Scheme allowing individuals to obtain citizenship or permanent residence through investments in the country. Often used for tax evasion and money laundering purposes.
Great Replacement
Far-right conspiracy theory that claims White Europeans are being systemically replaced by non-White peoples. Originally proposed by French white nationalist Renaud Camus. Cited by several White supremacy terrorists as inspiration.
Great Reset
Conspiracy theory claiming that a secret elite orchestrated the COVID-19 pandemic to take control of the global economy. Derives its name from the Great Reset Initiative, an economic recovery plan proposed by the World Economic Forum. Often disseminated by Russian propaganda outlets to sow disinformation.
Greater Hungary
The idea that Hungary should have previous territories restored, often referencing the Kingdom of Hungary, including parts of Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, and Ukraine. Frequently used for propaganda purposes by far-right parties in Hungary.
Gulag
Forced labour camp system in The Soviet Union. Established after the 1917 revolution and greatly expanded by dictator Joseph Stalin in the 1920s. Estimates for total number of prisoners vary significantly but is thought to be in the tens of millions. At least 1.5 million people are believed to have died during detention. Abolished in 1960 by official decree.
Hack-and-leak operation
Cyber attack used to gain access to classified material and then release it to the public. Often associated with clandestine government operations aimed at undermining foreign adversaries. The Russian hacking operation against the Democratic Party during the 2016 US presidential election is a well-known example of a successful hack-and-leak operation.
Hamas
Acronym of Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiya “Islamic Resistance Movement”. Political and military organisation founded after the First Intifada in 1987. Designated terrorist organisation by most Western countries. Has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007. Responsible for the 7 October 2023 attack that triggered the Israel-Hamas war.
Hezbollah
“Party of Allah”. Shia Islamist political party and militant group in Lebanon formed in 1982. While its military wing is heavily funded and trained by Iran, Hezbollah also enjoys significant support from Lebanon’s Shi’ite population (est. 32% of the population in 2024). Performs social services, operates a TV station, and is often described as a state within the state of Lebanon.
Holodomor
Famine in Ukraine (1932-1933) that saw millions die to starvation. Often explained as the result of a deliberate starvation policy overseen by Joseph Stalin as punishment for Ukrainian independence aspirations. Internationally recognised as a genocide against the Ukrainian people by the Soviet Union.
Horseshoe theory
Political theory proposing that the far-left and far-right are not as far apart as they seem and share a political agenda, thus forming a horseshoe rather than a straight line. The term was coined by French philosopher Jean-Pierre Faye (2002) and is often associated with National Bolshevism, which synthesises elements of fascism and bolshevism.

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Illegals
Network of Russian sleeper agents posing as regular citizens. A network of ten illegals was exposed in 2010 and subsequently deported to Russia in a prisoner exchange involving former GRU officer Sergei Skripal and others convicted of spying in Russia.
LARPer
Abbreviation of Live-Action Role-Playing where players dress as particular characters and act out their roles. Often used as a derogatory term for someone who is pretending to be something they’re not (“Caleb was LARPing as a revolutionary communist”).
Machiavellianism
One of the dark triad of personality traits alongside narcissism and psychopathy. Traits include “manipulativeness, deceitfulness, high levels of self-interest, and a tendency to see other people as means to an end” (Psychology Today). Named after Italian philosopher and political theorist Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527).
Magnitsky Act
Law passed by US Congress in 2012 authorizing the government to sanction foreign government officials that are human rights offenders. Named after Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky who was beaten to death in a Moscow prison in 2009 after investigating large-scale fraud involving Russian tax officials.
Manosphere
Umbrella term for a wide variety of male-oriented websites and communities. Strongly linked to misogyny, toxic masculinity, and the belief that feminism has corrupted society. Adherents often claim to have “taken the red pill”, a metaphor for seeing the hidden truth in reference to the film The Matrix.
Marxism-Leninism
Ideology developed by Joseph Stalin. Rejects the notion of a communist world revolution in favour of developing “socialism in one country”. Often characterized by a high degree of centralized control by the state and political repression. Official ideology of contemporary one-party republics like China, Cuba, and Vietnam.

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Mata Hari
Dutch exotic dancer (1876-1917) convicted of spying on Germany’s behalf in World War I. Often used as synonym for the archetypical femme fatale that uses seduction to gain access to classified information.
Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact
Treaty between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union that functioned as a non-aggression pact and secretly divided Central and Eastern Europe between the two powers. Signed in August 1939 as prelude to World War II. Unilaterally terminated by Germany following the launch of Operation Barbarossa in June 1941.
MH17 Incident
Refers to the downing of Malaysian passenger flight MH17 in July 2014. The plane was shot down in Donetsk by Kremlin-controlled separatist forces using a Buk surface-to-air missile, killing 298 people of whom 80 were children. Russian separatist leader and former FSB officer Igor Girkin was later charged with the murders alongside three others.
Mueller report
Official US government report documenting Russian efforts to interfere in the 2016 US presidential election. Named after Special Counsel Robert Mueller who led the investigation. Concluded that the Russian government “interfered in the 2016 presidential election in a sweeping and systematic fashion”. Has resulted in at least 34 indictments.

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Multipolarity
An international system with three or more centres of power. Often proposed as an alternative to US hegemony in global affairs.
My Lai Massacre
War crime committed by the US military in 1968 during the Vietnam War. According to the Vietnamese government, 504 people were killed while several rapes also occurred.
NAFO
The North Atlantic Fella Organisation. Internet meme movement dedicated to countering Russian propaganda and ridiculing Russian misinformation narratives. A play on NATO, the activist movement has been endorsed by various Ukrainian and Baltic politicians. Users identifying with #NAFO often use a Shiba Inu dog as their online avatar.
National Bolshevism
Political ideology seeking to combine elements of fascism and communism. Sometimes referred to as the red-brown alliance. Historically tied to several different German parties predating Adolf Hitler’s rise to power. Today often associated with the Russian National Bolshevik Party formed in 1992 by Eduard Limonov and Aleksandr Dugin.
Neoconservative
Term used to describe conservatives in support of aggressive militarism, interventionism or a “peace through strength” philosophy. Often associated with the policies of the George W. Bush administration (2001-2009), in which neoconservatives played a prominent role.
Neoliberalism
Broad term often used to describe the economic belief that market-based reforms are the most efficient solution. Often associated with politicians like British prime minister Margaret Thatcher, US president Ronald Reagan, and Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet. Intellectually grounded in the work of economists like Milton Friedman and Friedrich Hayek.
New Left
Political school of thought that emerged in the 1960s and 1970s. Often rejects the traditional left’s definition of class struggle and instead focuses on social justice issues like gay rights, drug policy reform, or women’s reproductive rights. Described by some as the precursor of modern identity politics.
Novorossiya
Historical term coined by Catherine the Great to describe newly conquered territories in modern-day Ukraine. Revived by Vladimir Putin in 2014 to describe the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Luhansk, Mykolaiv, and Odesa. Frequently used by Russian propagandists to advance the narrative of Russo-Ukrainian unity.
Objectivism
Philosophical system developed by philosopher Ayn Rand. Defined by “rational egoism” and the belief that it is moral to pursue one’s own happiness.
Occupy Movement
International left-wing protest movement opposed to social and economic inequality. Fueled by the global financial crisis in 2007-08 and its devastating consequences for working-class people. Often associated with the Occupy Wall Street movement in New York City which peaked in 2011.
October Revolution
The second phase of the Russian Revolution in 1917, which saw the Bolshevik Party seize power after overthrowing the social-democratic Russian Provisional Government. Resulted in a civil war (1917-1923) that ended with the creation of the Soviet Union.
OPCW
The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. Intergovernmental organisation working to eliminate the use of chemical weapons as defined by the Chemical Weapons Convention of 1997. Often antagonized by Syrian regime defenders due to its documentation of poison gas being used during the Syrian civil war (2011-).
Orange Revolution
Series of anti-government protests in Ukraine (2004-2005). Caused by the widespread belief that the 2004 Ukraine presidential election was rigged in favour of pro-Kremlin candidate Viktor Yanukovich. Pro-Western politician Viktor Yushchenko was eventually declared the winner after a revote was ordered by the Ukrainian Supreme Court.

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OSINT
Open-Source INTelligence – the collection and analysis of data available to the general public. Often relies on specific online tools like Spiderfoot or Maltego rather than traditional search engines like Google or Bing. Some well-known OSINT projects are the Ukrainian research group Molfar and the investigative journalist collective Bellingcat.
Outrage Merchant
Online grifter that seeks to maximize reach by using outrageous claims to boost their algorithm presence. Frequently monetized at a later stage by converting clout into sales or paid subscriptions.

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Pandora Papers
Investigative journalism series by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists that revealed massive offshore wealth transfers by the world elites. 11.9 million leaked documents named at least 35 world leaders. Followed similar revelations in the Panama Papers (2016) and Paradise Papers (2017).
Patreon
Membership platform that allows fans to subscribe to a content creator by pledging a monthly amount. Multiple tiers can be used to offer varying levels of content access or other exclusive benefits.
Peacenik
An active member of a pacifist movement or someone who opposes armed conflict. Often used as a derogatory synonym for an appeaser.
Pizzagate
Conspiracy theory falsely claiming that the Washington D.C. pizzeria Comet Ping Pong was secretly used by high-ranking Democrats for abusing and sex trafficking children. Originated when WikiLeaks published leaked emails from Democratic Party officials that were interpreted to contain code words for paedophilia and human trafficking. Identified the source of operations as the restaurant’s basement despite the restaurant not having a basement.

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PMC
Private Military Company. Commercial organisation that carries out military or security duties. Often deployed alongside regular military units.
Ponzi Scheme
Investment scam that deceives investors by promising high returns with little or no risk. Uses funds obtained from recent investors to pay off earlier investors before inevitably collapsing. Often exaggerates profitability to attract new investments and is frequently associated with contemporary cryptocurrency scams. Named after notorious Italian con man Charles Ponzi (1882-1949).
Proud Boys
Neo-fascist White nationalist organisation established in the United States in 2016 by Canadian writer Gavin McInnes. Derives its name from the Aladdin musical song “Proud of Your Boy”. Many of its leading members participated in the January 6 insurrection and were sentenced to long prison terms. Banned on most social media platforms and designated a terrorist organisation by Canada and New Zealand.

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PsyOp
Abbreviation of “Psychological Operations”. Strategic communication technique that seeks to persuade and influence a target audience in support of a certain objective.
Pump and Dump
Manipulative scheme that involves artificially inflating the price of a stock by hyping or exaggerating its value (pumping), followed by selling it at the peak of its inflated value (dumping).
Pussy Riot
Russian feminist art group based in Moscow. Founded in 2011 by musician Nadezhda “Nadya” Tolokonnikova. Often wears brightly colored balaclavas during performances. Several members have been assaulted in public and/or imprisoned by the Russian state.
QAnon
Far-right conspiracy theory centered around the belief that Donald Trump secretly fought a deep state cabal while president. Evolved from Pizzagate on social media website 4chan where a user claimed to be a government official with “Q-level” clearance. Followers often fantasize about an event known as “the Storm”, which would see thousands of cabal members exposed, arrested and/or executed.

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Rabbit hole
Trope which refers to developing a deep and often obsessive interest in a specific topic. Originally derived from Alice in Wonderland where the protagonist follows a white rabbit into a hole that leads to Wonderland. Often boosted by social media algorithms that prompt the users to view more similar content to keep them engaged on the platform.
Ratioing
Describes a situation where a reply to a social media post receives more likes or reshares than the original post. Often associated with posts on Twitter/X (“tweets”). Controversial posts are often ratioed in places with no downvote or dislike function as a way of expressing disagreement.
Red-brown alliance
→ National Bolshevism
Red Pill Movement
→ Manosphere
Rose Revolution
Series of protests in Georgia over suspected electoral fraud in the 2003 parliamentary elections. Named after demonstrators storming the Georgian parliament with red roses in hand. Part of the “color revolutions” that took place in many post-Soviet states.

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Roskomnadzor
Russian government agency in charge of controlling and censoring Russian mass media. Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Roskomnadzor has blocked over 850,000 websites including Facebook and Instagram. Also plays a prominent role in surveilling Russian citizens online.
Russiagate
Controversy surrounding Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections. While Russian interference has been extensively documented, critics often point to special investigator Robert Mueller’s report as proof that the level of involvement was exaggerated. Direct collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia was never proven but remains highly likely.

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Russo-Georgian War
War between Russia and Georgia fought in August 2008 over the separatist regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. A Russian victory resulted in the ethnic cleansing of Georgians from large parts of the separatist republics. Often linked to NATO accession talks gaining momentum following a promise in April 2008 that the alliance would consider Georgia’s membership bid.
Sahel
Biogeographical region in Africa that spans from Senegal in the west to Eritrea in the east. Acts as buffer zone between the Sahara Desert to the north and the savannahs to the south.
Serena Shim Award
Journalism award handed out by the pro-Assad organisation Association for Investment in Popular Action Committees. Serena Shim was a reporter with the Iranian state-controlled propaganda network Press TV who was killed in a car crash while covering the siege of Kobanî.
Shock therapy
Rapid economic reforms aimed at marketising a crisis-ridden economy. Often done through deregulation, liberalisation, privatisation, and financial austerity. Notable implementations of economic shock therapy include Chile in the 1970s, Bolivia in the 1980s and Russia in the 1990s.

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Siloviki
Russian word for strongmen. Describes persons who works for a state institution with force authorization. Often used to describe the most influential people in Putin’s inner circle with a background in the military or security services. Notable examples of senior siloviki include FSB Director Alexander Bortnikov, Security Council secretary Nikolai Patrushev, and Rosgvardiya Director Viktor Zolotov.
Srebrenica Massacre
The systematic killing of more than 8,000 Bosniak Muslims in the town of Srebrenica in July 1995. The United Nations had previously declared Srebrenica a safe area under its protection but was unable to prevent the genocidal actions taken by secessionists from the Army of Republika Srpska, supported by the Serbian government of Slobodan Milošević.
Stop the Steal
Political slogan that came to prominence following the 2020 US presidential election. Used by Donald Trump to rally his supporters around a baseless claim of election fraud. Culminated in the far-right coup attempt, also known as the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021, where nine people were killed during an attempt to stop the election results from being certified.

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Swatting
Criminal prank where a false report is made to an emergency service with the intent of deceiving them into sending an armed response to another person’s address. Derives its name from the American law enforcement unit Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT).
Tankie
Pejorative term for someone who supports authoritarian regimes with a socialist legacy and defends their oppressive tactics. Often supports anyone opposed to the United States regardless of ideology. Originally used to distinguish British communists who supported the use of force to suppress uprisings in the Soviet bloc. The Hungarian Revolution of 1956 and the 1968 Prague Spring were notable examples of tanks being deployed to crush dissent.

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Tea Party Movement
Right-wing populist movement aimed at radicalising the Republican Party. Advocates lower taxes and less regulation. Founded in 2009 to strengthen the opposition to newly elected president Barack Obama. Takes its name from the Boston Tea Party incident (1773), where American secessionists threw tea into the harbor to protest taxes and a trade monopoly.
Trotskyism
Marxist ideology developed by Russian revolutionary Leon Trotsky (1879-1940). The core belief of Trotskyism is the theory of a permanent revolution. To challenge capitalist hegemony, revolutions must spread internationally instead of being confined to a single country, as suggested by Stalin’s idea of “socialism in one country”. Also differs from Stalinist communism by supporting decentralized economic planning rather than central planning.

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Uyghur genocide
Ongoing human rights abuse committed by the Chinese government against the predominantly Muslim Uyghur population in the province of Xinjiang. Experts estimate that sixteen thousand mosques have been razed while numerous reports have also documented forced sterilization, political reeducation, and forced labor camp detention of up to one million Uyghurs. China denies all allegations and defends its Xinjiang policy as “deradicalization measures”.
Victory Day
Russian holiday that commemorates the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. Celebrated on May 9 since 1945. Marked by an annual military parade in Moscow.
Višegrad Massacre
Mass murder against Bosniak civilians committed in 1992 in the town and municipality of Višegrad. Between 1,000-3,000 people are believed to have been killed by Serbian police and military forces.

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Watergate
US political scandal in which the Nixon administration tried to conceal its involvement in the 1972 break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in the Watergate hotel. Ultimately led to Richard Nixon’s resignation in 1974.
Whataboutism
Pejorative description of an argumentative tactic where an accusation is answered by pointing to another topic rather than addressing the point. Often serves to distract from the topic in question.
White Helmets
Syrian volunteer organisation also known as Syria Civil Defence. The group’s approximately 3,000 first responders are mainly active in opposition-controlled areas of Syria. Often the subject of conspiracy theories alleging ties to terrorist groups or the group being a CIA front organisation. These baseless claims are typically spread by defenders of the Assad regime.
WMD
Weapon of Mass Destruction. Broad term for a biological, chemical, or nuclear weapon with the potential to kill huge numbers of people or cause massive environmental destruction.
Woke
Someone who is aware of – and often engaged in – struggles for social justice. Originally used to describe the fight for African American civil rights, which has since evolved to encompass broader societal issues. Often used as an insult by right-wing ideologues who associate it with cancel culture and attempts at stifling free speech.