Homage to the heroic Ukraine, a milestone for Russian studies

Reflections on Grzegorz Przebinda's book „Putin's Last War: A Philologist's Argument with Russia”

Abstract

The article discusses the latest book by Polish philologist, Russian studies expert, and historian of ideas Grzegorz Przebinda titled Putin's Last War. A philologist’s discourse with Russia. The core of this work is the Diary of the First Year of War, which is an intellectual reflection on the war initiated by the Russian Federation against Ukraine. Against the background of current events, noting and condemning Russian war crimes, the author of the book reflects on the history, culture, and literature of Russia, showing not only the historical and cultural roots of Russian imperialism but also the rich legacy of the Russian intelligentsia's struggle against successive repressive regimes in the largest geographically state in the world. It is not only a discourse on Russian imperial myths but also a tribute to the Ukrainian nation fighting for survival and to those few Russians who actively, despite the threat of reprisals, protest against the war. It is also a book that sets out a number of directions for future research for the international Russian studies community.