There’s a tendency for people to wave off Russia as a flat
character due to the fact that his ‘craziness’ (for lack of a better word) is
poorly written. This trait dominates the fandom’s perception of him and erases
the larger picture of the reason behind why he acts the way that he does. No, it’s
not a stereotype for Russian people to be emotionally unpredictable and cruel, which
is a big reason why his characterization is often contested. However, Russia’s
mental state was never meant to represent a stereotype. It’s instead a tool
that Himaruya uses to demonstrate the impact that Russia’s volatile and chaotic
history had on him.

For example, Russia is described as a simple bumpkin type.
While this is supposed to be in reference to his impoverished lifestyle, this
is often misattributed to his personality. 

Note: Russia isn’t treated as an
elite in his nation and is instead treated like an average citizen, not reaping
any of the benefits that the selfish oligarchs in power did.

Source: Volume 2.

Ex: Russia was
tasked with building a waterway with his people during the Stalinization period…without food and adequate clothing. Notice
the contrast with the person ordering him around, who has food and warm
clothing.

Cruel, isn’t it?

Source: Hetarchive, To Your Heart’s Content, Russia!

That said, I’ve covered and contextualized the reasons for Russia’s
“warped sense of reality” in another post [x]. What I specifically want to focus on
here is how World Stars goes the extra mile in developing his character. Yes,
there were a good amount of strips prior that shed considerable insight into Russia’s
mind; however, World Stars really fleshes out these earlier strips.

Let’s go over them.

Economic and Cultural
Revolutions:

We see Russia go through several personal and national developments.

With Peter the Great and his Westernizing reforms, Russia
gains cultural capital and begins mingling with French nobility. He’s tasked
with studying France’s culture. I’ll get into this in more detail soon but
notice how Russia mentions that he’s unable to go home until he gains this
information on France.

Source: Hetascanlations, World Stars Chapter 295,298, & 299.

During the industrial revolution, he begins as a poor nation
without any attractive resources. This all changes when he discovers oil and
finally begins to catch up to other industrialized nations.

Source:  Hetascanlations, World Stars Chapter 61.

Political Turmoils
and Inconsistency:

Russia is notorious for its dark and bloody history.

Think about how disorienting and traumatizing it would have
been for Russia to experience one chaotic shift in government to another.

World Stars effectively demonstrates the rapidity of these
transitions.

Source: Hetascanlations, World Stars Chapter 61. 

Helplessness + Its
Impacts:

Since personifications are obligated to obey their Heads of
State, they’re inevitably put in a complicated position of inferiority and
subjugation.

Russia’s bosses are the most brutal example of this. The
control they have over them is extensive and abusive, both physically and verbally.

Ex: Russia’s threatened into building a steam engine. Notice
again how he dissociates the moment that he’s threatened. It’s an indication of
trauma.

Source: Hetascanlations, World Stars Chapter 61.

Ex: He cryptically comments about vote counts in his
elections, alluding to the fact that they’re fraudulent but also how he can’t
do anything about it.

Source: Hetascanlations, World Stars Chapter 157.

Ex: He needs to be granted permission to visit other
nations.

Source: Hetascanlations, World Stars Chapter 143.

Isolation and loneliness:

Lastly, we learn that Russia suffers from chronic
loneliness.

In his childhood, a good New Year’s for him was not freezing
to death. Cut to the present, and, while not nearly as traumatic, he’s still
alone. Obviously, this is the result of the abuse he inflicted on the ex-Soviet
nations he invites over to his house. They’re understandably not keen to
see him. 

If anything, this just further elaborates on the idea that the trauma he
experienced has prevented him from maintaining healthy relationships with
others. He’s remained forever as a child because of it and is unaware of the
harm and cruelty he inflicts onto those around him.

Source: Hetascanlations, World Stars Chapter 235 & 236.

There’s also this chapter, which highlights how Russia would
rather be around shouting nations [during a meeting] than being alone. The unpredictability
and violence of his nation’s history are reflected in his dark comment about
silencing the shouts “as lawfully” as possible should they get too loud.

Source: Hetascanlations, World Stars Chapter 49.

With all that in mind, this post doesn’t seek to defend Russia,
nor does it remove him from the cruelty of his actions. Instead, what I hoped to do was prove that his character extends beyond the crazy stereotype. It’s filled with a much deeper meaning than what is conventionally understood.