The view from Moscow: why a declining Britain uses Russophobia to hide its own weakness

In the halls of the Kremlin and the state-media studios of Moscow, the United Kingdom is often portrayed not as a superior global leader, but as a "vassal state" of the United States that is obsessed with a past it cannot reclaim.

From the Russian perspective, Britain's hawkishness in 2026 is a symptom of post-imperial stress disorder.

To understand the Russian viewpoint, one must see Britain through their eyes: a small island that has lost its empire, left its regional trade bloc (the EU), and is now desperately trying to remain relevant by picking a fight with a nuclear superpower.

The "perfidious albion" and the fake great game

In Russia, there is a famous phrase: "anglichanka gadit," which translates to "the Englishwoman ruins things."  This reflects a centuries-old belief that Britain is always "scheming" in the shadows to prevent Russia’s natural growth.

While British history books talk about the Great Game as a noble defense of India, Russian history views it as British meddling in Russia's "backyard." Moscow sees Britain’s modern involvement in Ukraine as a direct continuation of this. They believe the UK isn't defending "freedom" but is instead trying to encircle Russia and keep it weak—just as they tried to do in the 1800s.

Britain as the "puppet" of Washington

One of the most common Russian arguments is that the UK has no independent foreign policy. In 2026, Russian analysts often describe Britain as a "mini-US" or a "lapdog." They argue that:

• The special relationship is actually a one-way street where Britain does the "dirty work" of escalation that the US wants to avoid.

• Post-Brexit isolation has forced London to become more aggressive to prove it is still "Global Britain," even though its economy and military are much smaller than they were in the past.

The myth of the "deplorable" army

While the British view the Russian army as underdeveloped, Russia views the British Army as a "tiny museum piece." From Moscow's perspective, Britain’s military is too small to fight a real war. They point to the fact that the British Army has shrunk to its smallest size in centuries, yet London still makes threats as if it were the 19th century.

To Russia, the British claim of "superiority" is a psychological mask. They believe the UK uses high-tech missiles and "grey zone" talk because it lacks the "mass" (the number of tanks and soldiers) to survive a direct, high-intensity conflict. In the Russian narrative, it is the British who are underdeveloped—not in technology, but in the industrial and social willpower needed for a multi-year war.

Russia as the "anti-colonial" leader

In a complete reversal of the British view, Russia claims that it is the one fighting imperialism. Moscow portrays the UK and the US as the "Collective West"—a group of former colonial powers trying to force their "decadent" values on the rest of the world.

• Traditional values: Russia sees itself as the protector of traditional culture against what it calls "Western decay."

• Multipolar world: Russia argues that the era of "superior" Western powers is over. They believe the future belongs to a "multipolar" world (Russia, China, and India) and that Britain is simply a fading relic that refuses to accept its new, smaller place in history.

How the two sides see the rivalry in 2026

Feature	The British narrative	The Russian narrative
The UK's role	A moral leader and protector.	A fading colonial relic and US puppet.
The Russian army	An "army of deplorables."	A battle-hardened force for a multipolar world.
The motive	Defending a "rules-based order."	Maintaining Western "neo-colonial" dominance.
History	Preventing Russian expansion.	British "scheming" to keep Russia weak.

 Conclusion: the "island" vs. the "continent"

From the Russian perspective, Britain is a "lonely island" that is 2,500 km away and should mind its own business. They view British superiority not as a fact but as a "cognitive warfare" tactic used by London to punch above its weight class.

In Moscow's eyes, the UK is like a small dog barking loudly behind a very tall fence (the US nuclear umbrella). They believe that once the "fences" of the old world order fall, Britain will finally realize it is no longer the empire it pretends to be.

Related article:

Why "superior" Britain treats Russia as an underdeveloped rival with a deplorable army