Active measures (
Russian: активные мероприятия,
romanized:
aktivnye meropriyatiya) is
political warfare conducted by the Soviet or
Russian government since the 1920s. It includes offensive programs such as disinformation,
propaganda, deception, sabotage,
destabilization, and espionage.
Agitprop (Russian: агитпро́п; blend of Russian
агита́ция agitatsiya "agitation" and
пропага́нда propaganda "propaganda"; origin – 1930's, from shortened form of отде́л агита́ции и пропага́нды, transliteration
otdel agitatsii i propagandy, ('Department for Agitation and Propaganda'), which was part of the Central and regional committees of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. The department was later renamed
Ideological Department.) • Political (originally communist) propaganda
Apparatchik derived from the title of a
KGB black propaganda department. Disinformation was defined in the
Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1952) as "false information with the intention to deceive public opinion".) Term for eight of
Russia's 85 federal subjects, often translated as territory, province, or region.
Leninism (Russian: ленини́зм) (after
Vladimir Lenin, the term was coined in 1918) The political, economic, and social principles and practices of the Russian revolutionary Vladimir Lenin, especially his theory of government, which formed the basis for Soviet communism.
Lishenets (Russian: лише́нец) (from Russian лишение, "deprivation", properly translated as
disenfranchised) (historical) A certain group of people in the Soviet Union who, from 1918 to 1936, were prohibited from voting and denied other rights.
Maskirovka (Russian: маскировка) (literally 'disguise') is a Russian
military doctrine developed from the start of the twentieth century. The doctrine covers a broad range of measures for
military deception, from
camouflage to
denial and deception.
Menshevik (Russian: меньшеви́к) (from Russian word меньшинство́
menshinstvo, "minority", from ме́ньше ''men'she
"less"; the name Menshevik'' was coined by Vladimir Lenin when the party was (atypically) in the minority for a brief period) (historical) A member of the non-Leninist wing of the Russian Social Democratic Workers' Party, opposed to the
Bolsheviks, who defeated them during the
Russian Civil War that followed the 1917
Russian Revolution.
Mir (Russian: мир) (from Russian
mir, meaning both "world" and "peace") • (historical) A peasant farming commune in pre-Revolutionary Russia. •
Mir, a space station created by the former Soviet Union and continued by
Russia until 2001.
Namestnik (, ; Russian, literally "deputy" or "lieutenant") (historical) • (12th–16th century) An official who ruled an
uyezd and was in charge of local administration. • (18th–20th century) A type of viceroy in Russia who ruled a
namestnichestvo and had
plenipotentiary powers.
Narkompros (Russian: Наркомпро́с) (Russian Народный комиссариат просвещения, an abbreviation for the '''People's Commissariat for Enlightenment''' (historical) The Soviet Union agency charged with the administration of public education and most other issues related to culture, such as literature and art. Founded by the Bolsheviks during the
Russian Revolution, it was renamed in 1946 to the Ministry of Enlightening.
Narodniks (Russian: plural наро́дники, singular наро́дник) (from Russian
narod, "people", in turn from the expression "хождение в народ", meaning "going to the people") (historical) The name for Russian revolutionaries (active from the 1860s to the 1880s) that looked on the peasants and intelligentsia as revolutionary forces, rather than the urban working class.
NEP or
The New Economic Policy (NEP) (Russian: нэп, acronym for но́вая экономи́ческая поли́тика
novaya ekonomicheskaya politika) (historical) An economic policy instituted in 1921 by Lenin to attempt to rebuild industry, especially agriculture. The policy was later reversed by Stalin.
Nomenklatura (Russian: номенклату́ра) (Russian
nomenklatura, from the Latin
nomenclatura, meaning a list of names) (historical) In the former Soviet Union, a list of influential posts in government and industry to be filled by Communist Party appointees; collectively the holders of these posts, the Soviet élite.
Oblast (Russian: область) A type of administrative division
Obshchina (Russian: ́община, общи́на) (Russian о́бщий
obshchiy common, commune) Russian peasant agrarian communities during
Imperialist Russia.
Obtshak (Russian: обща́к) In
criminal jargon, a mutual aid fund in the environment of a criminal community.
Okhrana in full:
The Okhrannoye otdeleniye (Russian: Охра́нное отделе́ние) (Russian, literally "protection section") (historical) The secret police organization (established in the 1860s) for protection of the Russian czarist regimes. It ended with the Bolshevik takeover of Russia in 1917; the Bolsheviks set up their own secret police organization, called the
Cheka.
Okrug (Russian: о́круг) (Russian
okrug is similar to the German word
Bezirk ("district"), both referring to something that is "encircled"). • In the former Soviet Union, an administrative division of an oblast and krai • A federal district in the present-day
Russian Federation Oprichnina (Russian: опри́чнина) (from the obsolete Russian word
опричь,
oprich, meaning "apart from" or "separate") (historical) Term for the domestic policy of Russian czar
Ivan the Terrible.
Oprichnik plural
Oprichniki (Russian: опри́чник) (historical) Name given to the bodyguards of Ivan the Terrible, who ruthlessly suppressed any opposition to his reign.
Perestroika (Russian: перестро́йка) (Russian
perestroika, literally "restructuring"; the term was first used in 1986) The reform of the political and economic system of the former Soviet Union, first proposed by
Leonid Brezhnev at the 26th Communist Party Congress in 1979 and later actively promoted by
Mikhail Gorbachev from 1985.
Podyachy (Russian: подья́чий) (Russian, from the Greek
hypodiakonos, "assistant servant") (historical) An office occupation in
prikazes (local and upper governmental offices) and lesser local offices of Russia from the 15th to the 18th century.
Politburo (Russian Политбюро́
politbyuro, from Полити́ческое бюро́
polit(icheskoe) byuro, "political bureau") (historical) The principal policymaking committee in the former Soviet Union that was founded in 1917; also known as the
Presidium from 1952 to 1966.
Posadnik (Russian: поса́дник) (from Old Church Slavic
posaditi, meaning to put, or place, since originally, they were placed in the city to rule on behalf of the prince of Kiev) (historical) A mayor (equivalent to a stadtholder, burgomaster, or podestà in the medieval West) in some East Slavic cities, notably in the Russian cities of
Novgorod and
Pskov; the title was abolished in the 15th and 16th centuries.
Praporshchik (Russian: пра́порщик) (from Slavonic
prapor (прапор), meaning flag, since the praporshchik was a flag-bearer among Kievan Rus troops) The name of a junior officer position in the military of the Russian Empire equivalent to ensign. Nowadays, this rank is used by the modern Russian army, police, and
FSB and is equivalent to
warrant officer.
Prikaz (Russian: прика́з) • (historical) An administrative (palace, civil, military, or church) or judicial office in
Muscovy and Russia of 15th–18th centuries; abolished by
Peter the Great. • In modern Russian, an administrative or military order (to do something).
Propiska (Russian: пропи́ска) (Russian full term
пропи́ска по ме́сту жи́тельства, "The record of place of residence", from the Russian verb
propisat "to write into", in reference to writing a passport into a registration book of the given local office) (historical) A regulation promulgated by the Russian czar designed to control internal population movement by binding a person to his or her permanent place of residence. Abolished by Lenin but later reinstated under Stalin in the Soviet Union.
Silovik (Russian: силови́к), plural
siloviks or
siloviki (Russian: силовики́) (from Russian си́ла
sila, "strength", "force") A collective name for ministers, generals, and other officials of "силовые ведомства" "siloviye vedomstva" – force departments – ministries and other departments that have arms (weapons) and ability to use armed force, such as the army,
FSB (KGB), or
MVD (police). The term
siloviks is often used to highlight or suggest their inclination to use force to solve problems.
Soviet (Russian: сове́т) (Russian
sovet, "council") (historical) • A revolutionary council of workers or peasants in Russia before the
1917 Revolution • An elected local, district, or national council in the former Soviet Union • A citizen in the former Soviet Union • Of or concerning the former Soviet Union
Sovkhoz plural
sovkhozes (Russian: совхо́з) (Russian
сове́тское хозя́йство,
(Sov) eckoje (khoz)yaistvo, "Soviet farm") • (historical) A state-owned farm in the former Soviet Union • A state-owned farm in countries of the former Soviet Union
Sovnarkhoz (Russian: Совнархо́з) (Russian
сове́т наро́дного хозя́йства,
sovet narodnogo hozyaistva,
Council of National Economy, usually translated as "Regional Economic Council") (historical) An organization of the former Soviet Union to manage a separate economic region.
Sovnarkom (Russian: Сове́т Мини́стров СССР) (Russian
Sovet Ministrov SSSR,
Council of Ministers of the USSR, sometimes abbreviated as Совми́н
Sovmin; between 1918 and 1946, it was named the '''Council of People's Commissars of the USSR'
(Совет Народных Комиссаров СССР, Russian Sovet Narodnykh Komissarov SSSR
, sometimes Sovnarkom
or SNK'').) (historical) In the former Soviet Union, the highest executive and administrative body.
Spetsnaz or
Specnaz (Russian: Войска́ специа́льного назначе́ния – спецна́з) or
Russian special purpose regiments (Voyska spetsialnogo naznacheniya) A general term for police or military units within the Soviet Union (later Russian Federation) who engage in special activities; similar to
commando.
Stakhanovite (Russian: стаха́новец) (after
Aleksei Grigorievich Stakhanov (Алексе́й Григо́рьевич Стаха́нов), a coal miner from
Donbas noted for his superior productivity; the Soviet authorities publicized Stakhanov's prodigious output in 1935 as part of a campaign to increase industrial output). • (historical) In the former Soviet Union, a worker who was exceptionally hardworking and productive and thus earned special privileges and rewards • Any exceptionally hardworking or zealous person, often with connotations of excessive compliance with management and lack of solidarity with fellow workers
Stalinism (Russian: сталини́зм; the term
Stalinism was first used in 1927, though not by Stalin himself, as he considered himself a
Marxist–Leninist). • (historical) The political, economic, and social principles and policies associated with
Joseph Stalin during his rule (1924–1953) of the Soviet Union; especially the theory and practice of communism developed by Stalin, which included rigid authoritarianism, widespread use of terror, and often emphasis on Russian nationalism. • Any rigid centralized authoritarian form of government or rule.
Stavka (Russian: Ста́вка) (historical) The general headquarters of armed forces in late
Imperial Russia and in the former Soviet Union.
Streltsy singular
strelitz, plural
strelitzes or
strelitzi (Russian: стрельцы́; singular: стреле́ц
strelets, "bowman") (historical) Units of armed guards created by
Ivan the Terrible in the 16th century and later abolished by
Peter the Great.
Tovarishch also
Tovarich (Russian: това́рищ IPA [tɐˈvarʲɪɕɕ],
tovarishch, "close friend", referring to the noun това́р
tovar, "merchandise"); In the former Soviet Union, a comrade; often used as a form of address.
Tsar also
czar,
tzar,
csar, and
zar (Russian:
царь , English : from Latin
Caesar). • (historical) Title of a Southern Slav ruler, as in
Bulgaria (913–1018, 1185–1422, and 1908–1946) and
Serbia (1346–1371). • (historical) Title for the emperor of Russia from about 1547 to 1917, although the term after 1721 officially only referred to the Russian emperor's sovereignty over formerly independent states. • (latter part of the 20th century) A person with great authority or power in a particular area, e.g.,
drug czar (spelled only as "czar" in this usage).
Tsarina also
tsaritsa (formerly spelled
czaritsa),
czarina, German
zarin, French
tsarine (Russian: цари́ца) (Russian, etymology from tsar) (historical) The wife of a tsar; also the title for the
empress of Russia.
Tsarevna also
czarevna (Russian царе́вна, etymology from tsar). • (historical) The daughter of a tsar • The wife of a tsarevitch
Tsarevich also
tsesarevich,
czarevich,
tzarevitch Russian: царе́вич, early 18th century, from tsar +
patronymic -evich (historical) The eldest son of an emperor of Russia; the male heir to a tsar.
Tysyatsky also
tysiatsky (Russian: ты́сяцкий) (sometimes translated as
dux or
Heerzog but more correctly meaning
thousandman; sometimes translated into the Greek
chilliarch, literally meaning "rule of a thousand") (historical) A military leader in
Ancient Rus who commanded a people's volunteer army called
tysyacha (Russian: ты́сяча), or a thousand.
Ukase (Russian: ука́з ordinance, edict, from указывать,
ukazat, to show) (pronunciation:
/juːˈkeɪs/;
yoo-KASE), a decree: • (historical) In
Imperial Russia, a proclamation or edict of the ruling tsar or tsarina, the Russian government, or a religious leader (patriarch) that had the force of law • (historical) In the former Soviet Union, a government edict issued by the
Presidium of the Supreme Soviet and subject to later ratification by the Supreme Soviet • In the
Russian Federation, a presidential decree
Uskoreniye (Russian: ускоре́ние, literally "acceleration") A slogan and policy initiated in 1985 by Soviet leader
Mikhail Gorbachev, aimed at the acceleration of social and economic development of the Soviet Union.
Votchina also
otchina (Russian: во́тчина (о́тчина) "father's heritage") (historical) • An East Slavic land estate that could be inherited • The land owned by a
knyaz Yevsektsiya also
Yevsektsia (Russian: ЕвСе́кция) (from the abbreviation of the phrase "Евре́йская се́кция"
Yevreyskaya sektsiya) (historical) The Jewish section of the Soviet Communist party that was created in 1918 to challenge and eventually destroy the rival
Bund and Zionist parties, suppress Judaism and "bourgeois nationalism", and replace traditional Jewish culture with "proletarian culture". It was disbanded in 1929.
Zampolit (Russian замполи́т, the abbreviation of (зам)еститель командира по (полит)ической части, "deputy commander (political)) A military or political commissar.
Zek (Russian abbreviation of ЗаКлючённый (З/К),
zaklyuchennyi (Z/K), "incarcerated") (historical) In the former Soviet Union, a person held in a forced labour camp, known as Gulag, or in a prison.
Zemshchina (from Russian земля́
zemlya, "earth" or "land") (historical) The territory under the rule of the
boyars who stayed in Moscow during the reign of
Ivan the Terrible. It was separate from the rule of Ivan's own territory, which was administered by the
Oprichnina.
Zemsky Sobor (Russian: зе́мский собо́р) (Russian assembly of the land) (historical) The first Russian parliament of the feudal estates type during the 16th and 17th centuries.
Zemstvo (Russian: зе́мство) (historical) A district and provincial assembly in Russia from 1864 to 1917. ==Religious==