grazhdanskiy

Grazhdanskiy is a Russian word that translates to "civilian" in English. It is primarily used to distinguish between military personnel and non-combatants. The term can refer to any person who is not actively serving in the armed forces, whether they are a citizen of the country or a foreigner residing within its borders. In contexts of conflict, the distinction between civilian and combatant is crucial for upholding international humanitarian law, which aims to protect those not participating in hostilities.

The concept of "grazhdanskiy" also extends beyond military matters. It can be used in a broader social and political sense to denote those who are not holding official government positions or are not part of the state apparatus. For example, a "grazhdanskiy aktivist" would be a civilian activist working on social or political issues outside of formal government structures. The word emphasizes a status outside of official or military capacity.