Putin presents 7 rings of power to CIS leaders - why does Ukraine call Russian invaders “orcs”? A story of orcs, elves, and men
Putin presented these 7 rings to his Fellow CIS Leaders during a recent summit. He presented those symbolic rings to the leaders of various former Soviet repbublics as if he wanted them to swear allegiance to him. Russia knows very well that it is losing control over the still Moscow dominated “Commonwealth of Independent States” (CIS).
The war in Ukraine has not just caused an ever deepening rift with the West but also with the CIS members themselves.
When I read this story, I thought to myself: 7 rings of power? A dark lord drawing all evil to him? I heard that story before, and so the idea came to life to search for answers. The blog “Happy Beaver” contained some of these answers. Today, we will explore the question: Why do Ukrainians call Russians orcs?
There is quite an extensive amount of literature on this issue, actually. The entire story takes us back decades to the Cold War.
A story must be told or there’ll be no story, yet it is the untold stories that are most moving. J.R.R. Tolkien
Note by the author The following is an allegory that combines elements of fiction and nonfiction.
According to Putin (Sauron in the budget version), the Ringwraiths (CIS) discussed cooperation in the field of economy, culture, and security. The mouth of Sauron wanted the crowd to know:
“We have to admit, unfortunately, that disagreements also arise between the member states of the Commonwealth," Putin said in a rare public acknowledgment of the simmering tensions within the group.
"The main thing, however, is that we are ready and will cooperate. And even if any problematic issues arise, we strive to solve them ourselves, together, jointly, providing each other with comradely assistance and mediation,”
The Dark Tower (Kremlin) then continued by presenting gifting each of the leaders a gold-colored ring with New Year’s greetings engraved on it. But only the entirely submissive leader of the Korsairs of Belarussia Alexander Lukashenko put this mighty gift on his finger immediately like any good servant of Sauron would do. Even trying to resist looking like a clown in front of his own people would be too much to ask from Luka-wormtongue who handed his spine over to the Kremlin the moment he sat down on his steward throne all those eons ago.
Recently the dark lord Putin has suffered several severe and brutal setbacks. Mordor’s declining influence over the former Soviet republics (Osgiliath and Moria) is just one symbol of the failing invasion plans of the dark lord as the elves and men continue insisting on defending their lands and resources against the Orc onslaught.
These cordial scenes in St. Petersburg (Isengard) is overshadowed by Haradrim’s leader Nikol Pashinyan (Armenia), who refused to sign the joint communique issued by the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) military alliance.
This blatant refusal angered the dark lord beyond measure as Mordor refutes to share power and hates being ridiculed by an ally on the international stage of Middle Earth politics.
Let’s get more serious now: So, Putin gave out Rings of power? But why do Ukrainians call them Orcs? Let us answer that question now.
I would like to quote a Russian oppositional blog on this meeting:
"And yet there were only nine rings in total, together with Putin’s own. The most obvious explanation, of course, is that Putin isn’t very familiar with the source material due to having not read a book in his life, with the exceptions of "Abridged History of CPSU for the Pioneer Youth" and "Foundations of Geopolitics". The second option is that Putin is merely the Witch King, another of the ringwraiths manipulated by the ancient disembodied evil of Russian imperialism. And finally there is the possibility that, in complete accordance with the story, the true One Ring of Power is lost, dark forces are combing the world searching for it, and should it be ever found, we all know what must be done."
Tolkien insisted his universe had nothing to do with the real world. however, the paralels were there.
If we accept Lord of the Rings as a sacred myth and if we accept that all myth is based on a kernel of truth then this charge can be allegory for the heavy Hussar cavalry charge during the Battle of Vienna. Tolkien resisted allegory to insulate LOTR from our history, so maybe it would be more of an inspiration.
Ukrainians have continuously referred to the Russian army as orcs.
This comparison came to many as a surprise , including me. I was surprised how readily this was adopted. So I was certain there is more to this. There is some sort of collective memory element that must play a role here. Indeed, there is historical evidence for that as this terminology dates back many decades to the Soviet era.
“The future, good or ill, was not forgotten but ceased to have any power over the present. Health and hope grew strong in them, and they were content with each good day as it came, taking pleasure in every meal and in every word and song.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
I am not telling you anything new when I say that Russia wants to challenge and oppose the West. Just like the Orcs for the Kremlin, we are some sort of evil entity, a dark alliance out to get Russia. While Mordor and its forces are forces of good, the West is portrayed as some sort of evil infiltrator trying to subjugate them. I imagine that is similar to the words Saruman uttered towards the hilltribes.
One of the secret talents of Russia just as those of Saruman is a ” secret ” talent for conspiracy theories and centering their own little world on Russia itself and everything Russian. They believe that actions by the world of elves and men are often directly related to Russia as some act of aggression.
Sure, there is some truth to this. Foreign companies have turned their back on Russia as a reaction to its current onslaught against Ukraine (Gondor). However, we were always suspicious of what Mordor was up to, so these actions were only partly triggered by this war as our trust in Russia was diminishing steadily.
But that doesn’t matter, Sauron makes everything about himself even if it’s not. And so to say it with Saruman “The Board is set and the pieces are moving” just Russia may not like how that story ends.
Eliot Borenstein addressed this topic in his book plots against Russia.
This man discusses what he calls rather “paranoid interpretations” of Russians, which Borenstein explains stem from a deeply historically rooted inferiority complex towards Europe. For Russians, their country is a big country, but it mostly exists inside a vacuum. When they look at international media, they find a lot of ridicule, and they feel like a minority pitted against many others.
Of course, this also extends into their literature, too. There have been many interpretations of Tolkien’s books, which are interpreted as just another example as of how the West attempts to demonize Russia. (formerly Soviet Union)
It’s a pity that stayed Bilbo’s hand. Many that live deserve death. Some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them, Frodo? Do not be too eager to deal out death in judgment. Even the very wise cannot see all ends. My heart tells me that Gollum has some part to play in it, for good or evil, before this is over. Gandalf
Mordor represents the USSR while the elves are the Western countries, and that makes the orcs the Russians themselves.
It remains questionable if Tolkien would ever agree with such an interpretation, but it happened anyway. There is an entire literary genre to interpret Tolkien’s universe, and also, Russian writers have made very significant contributions to this development. Kirill Yeskov’s The Last Ringsman is one of the most popular ones in this regard.
He claims in his interpretation that the “Lord of the Rings” is an elaborate Western propaganda piece to dehumanize Russians and justify the orc genocide.
In this book, Mordor is presented as a tolerant state with very advanced science, which is forced to defend itself from their barbaric neighbors.
The West (Elves, Gondorians, men of Rohan) treat the Russians (i.e., orcs) as an inferior race, their actions and battles and their brutality illustrate the contempt of the orcs for the other powers of Middle Earth out to get them. This is one of the lines he interprets as very hostile and targeted towards Russia directly.
But not all of the intepretations are so clear cut and of course Mr Borenstein’s views are highly controversial and by far not everyone is agreeing with them. There are some that believe that Russians recognize themselves in the orcs because they are a strong and militant society rather than because they are despised.
Here, Orcs stand for stability and stand out against the background of an ever more declining and ever more decadent West.
The reality of today, though, is that the Russians themselves do not call themselves orcs, regardless of whatever past interpreation was bestowed upon them. Now Ukrainians and a fair chunk of other Westerners have started calling them orcs.
It is unlikely that Ukrainians from an inside view would perceive this war as a fight of pure good and pure evil.
Even though Tolkien didn’t portray orcs as pure evil as well, just as very different and their society was structured entirely different compared to the other powers of Middle Earth. Ukrainians are also clearly not praising their militancy. They call them orcs according to “Happy Beavers” because they associate them with disorganization, minimal intelligence, and overwhelming bitterness of Orcs. Also, they arrive in great numbers, which adds to the effect.
Also, Orcs do not only exist in the work of Tolkien. They exist in many tales and many forms. They are sometimes portrayed as bloothirsty warriors who thrive on waging war. However, the word “orcs” has taken hold in the daily language of Ukrainians.
It is now on par with the Ukrainian word katsaps, a negative term meaning goat but referencing Russians, or Muscovites. They use these politically incorrect words on various levels for any Russians, from civilians and journalists all the way up the command chain to their high command as well.
But as Mordor has been invading a whole lot of countries, of course, others would call them differently. Koreans might use the word mauche (bearded). In Estonia, they might say tibla or tiblena (these are words with offensive origins)
When the war is over and Ukraine would update their dictionary, the word “orcs” will most likely make the cut. There have been some interesting phrases coming up since the war began. Here are some examples:
Русский военный корабль, иди ***** [ Russian war machines, piss off] is the most popular phrase among Ukrainians today. This phrase has been added to the list of national slogans. It makes a strong statement for the indomitability of Ukrainians and their desire to fight to the last as exemplified by the heroes of Snake Island.
Доброго вечора, ми з України [Good evening, we are from Ukraine] is a phrase uttered by Vitaliy Kim, the head of the Mykolayiv Regional State Administration. It symbolizes the optimism of Ukrainians even during the war. Kim, even in these difficult times, records videos for Ukrainians with a smile and jokes from the city of Mykolayiv.
Українська Мрія не вмирає [The Ukrainian Dream (Mriya] does not Die] is a phrase that speaks of resilience and faith at its best. When the world’s largest airplane, the Dream (Mriya), was destroyed, Ukrainians said their dream would not die despite Russia’s best efforts.
«Бандера смузі» [Bandera smoothie] is the Ukrainian version of Molotov cocktails. They are prepared by ordinary Ukrainians in almost every city and then used against the Russian troops. Ordinary people, students, women, retirees, gather in yards or basements to contribute to the national struggle in preparing this cocktail. This phrase demonstrates the unity of Ukrainians in resistance.
This list is not complete as newly coined phrases and expressions frequently appear.
So if we do accept that an allegory is possible then by far the closest allegory we could make is the one relating to the “Battle of the Pelennor Fields” which shows great similiarities with the cavalry charge of the Polish Hussars against the Ottomans in the “Battle of Vienna”. Here is a short excerpt taken from Wikipedia
18,000 horsemen charged down the hills, the largest cavalry charge in history. Sobieski led the charge: 661 at the head of 3,000 Polish heavy lancers, the famed "Winged Hussars". The Muslim Lipka Tatars who fought on the Polish side wore a sprig of straw in their helmets to distinguish them from the Tatars fighting on the Ottoman side. The charge easily broke the lines of the Ottomans, who were exhausted and demoralized and soon started to flee the battlefield. The cavalry headed straight for the Ottoman camps and Kara Mustafa's headquarters, while the remaining Viennese garrison sallied out of its defenses to join in the assault.
This charge saved Europe.
The Ottoman forces were between 150.000 and 200.000 men strong. Also, Polish Hussar’s armor looked similar to the riders of the Rohirrim. Do you want a trip down memory lane? Here is your chance to relive this glorious moment of the third movie:
The West must be aware that the regime in the Kremlin is treacherous, deviant, and expansionist. They will lie if they have to just like the “Mouth of Sauron” to get us to the negotiating table. There are some female leaders from the Northern states and the Baltics who have views that I can relate to. One of them is Kaja Kallas. She says the Kremlin negotiaties like this:
1) Demand, not ask for the maximum of something they have no right to.
2) Present ultimatums to demands and threaten everyone repeatedly
3) Concede nothing in negotiations
4) Wait for the West to give them something they didn’t have before
Final words
Now, as we returned to reality, I really want to say that while this story may be lighter than many things I write, nonetheless Ukraine needs our help now more than ever. The beacons of Minas Tirith are lit, and the West must answer.
I am a bit of a Lord of the Rings nerd that goes both for the books and the movies (extended version) I will let Aragorn have the last words so that the days of the king may indeed come and so that we can share this world in days of peace May these days be blessed.
A day may come when the courage of men fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship, but it is not this day. So for all that you hold dear on this good earth, I bid you stand men of the West!
Aragorn, The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
Post scriptum:
On a serious note, this kind of terminology holds a danger as it dehumanizes the enemy, and this is a marker of genocide. Russia did that to Ukrainians by coining them “Kokhols” or “Jewish-Nazis” I want to prevent any accusations that this piece is meant to do this in turn to Russians. This story has no such agenda behind it. I want it understood as a piece of infotainment.
