How is Russia not part of Western Civilization?
Note that the West is busy devolving, but still.....
Well, Russia is devolving faster.
Russia has devolved much faster than the rest of the “west”.
Historically, the Russian high point was probably in 1914, when it could be said that Russia was, in spite of everything, finally, front and center...
Disasters since ripped the heart out of Russian culture -
ref “Natashas Dance”, Orlando Figes - the glorious rise and excruciating death of high culture in Russia.
These days Russia might as well be Iraq. There is no mind there.