As Russia's military campaign in Ukraine continues to unfold, Sergey Mardan, a Russian propagandist, has made headlines by advocating for the revival of the Russian Empire.
Mardan's comments come in the wake of President Vladimir Putin's declaration of a new Russian holiday, the "Day of Unification," which celebrates the annexation of several Ukrainian regions.
President Putin announced the "Day of Unification" on September 30 to commemorate the annexation of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions of Ukraine.
These regions were declared as new Russian territories a year ago, following referendums not recognized under international law. Putin had previously made a similar move with the annexation of Crimea, celebrated on March 18 in Russia.
Mardan's Vision for Russia
On his show, Mardan Live, Sergey Mardan spoke about the new holiday, describing it as a step towards Russia's "discovery of its purpose," which he admits is "yet to be defined."
He argues that the holiday marks Russia's journey towards restoring itself as an empire, dismissing the idea that Russia aims to revive the USSR.
The Russian Empire, also known as Imperial Russia, existed from 1721 until its dissolution in 1917. It covered a vast territory, including modern-day countries like Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania, Estonia, Finland, Poland, and Georgia.
Mardan believes that Russia's current ideology is in the process of being formed, and he envisions a return to the empire's glory days.
Since the collapse of the USSR, Mardan describes Russia's existence as one of "timelessness, blackness, and hopelessness." However, he believes the new holiday brings hope and purpose to the nation. He even compares Russia's post-USSR existence to that of a drug user, stating that the new transformation is both "wonderful and frightening."
Watch the video with Mardan below
