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Vatnik (Russian: ватник, "cotton-padded jacket") or vatnyk (Belarusian: ватнік, Ukrainian: ватник), both a derivative of and often shortened to vata (Russian: вата, Ukrainian: вата, "batting", usually used in plural) are derogatory social slang neologisms in Belarusian, Russian and Ukrainian languages, and an internet meme used in reference to individuals with pro-Russian jingoist and chauvinist views.
Contents
In the original meaning, vatnik (also telogreika) is a cheap cotton-padded jacket.
Internet meme
The meme was created by Russian Anton Chadskiy under the pseudonym Jedem das Seine. His associated picture of an anthropomorphic square-shaped quilted jacket similar to Spongebob was posted on VK for the first time on September 9, 2011. In 2012, the meme became widely popular on the Internet. Chadskiy created the group for the character on VK called "РАШКА - КВАДРАТНЫЙ ВАТНИК" in Russian.
The meme became much more widespread in society after the Russian military intervention in Ukraine started in 2014. In the beginning of 2015, Anton Chadskiy reported that he was forced to leave Russia in November 2014 because he feared political persecution by the government. He was living in Kiev and planning to move to Berlin at the time.
Examples of use
Alternative usages
Although the words "vatnik" and "vata" are widely used by Ukrainians and people sympathizing with them to offend Russians, they are sometimes used by Russians themselves. The word "vatnik" can be used by Russians both in negative manner – to describe those of Russians who show too jingoistic or foolish forms of patriotism, and sometimes in positive manner – to express speaker's support for some aspects of Russian culture/values/politics.
Similar term "vyshyvatnik"/"vyshyvatnyk" (junction of words vyshyvanka – national Ukrainian wearing, and "vatnik") appeared in Russian and Ukrainian languages to describe individuals with pro-Ukrainian jingoist views. As with "vatnik", the word can be used both by opponents of Ukrainians, and by Ukrainians themselves (e.g. to describe jingoism, laziness or other negative traits of some of foolish Ukrainian patriots).