Russian Compatriots (sootechestvenniki) Співвітчизники (соотєчєствєннікі) (ua)

one of the concepts that outline the Kremlin's spheres of interest This definition functions in a concentric way: from a civic core (expatriate citizens) to a broader circle that includes people who are culturally and spiritually oriented toward Russia (for example the separatists of Transnistria or the insurgents from Donetsk and Luhansk), then to an even larger group of all former Soviet peoples and people who were part of the Tsarist Empire (thus, even Poles and Finns could be compatriots!), and finally, the last circle is the broadest one and includes people who speak Russian and who feel an affinity for Russian culture and spirituality.