The 'I Serve the Soviet Union' meme originated from the 2019 HBO miniseries Chernobyl, depicting a scene where liquidators are thanked for their dangerous service and respond with the titular formal phrase. On the internet, the template became a viral sensation used to highlight moments of communal sharing or selfless acts of minor significance, such as sharing a snack or upvoting a struggling post. It typically features a character shaking hands with a high-ranking official, symbolizing a rigid sense of duty and loyalty to the collective. The meme is a favorite for portraying a comedic sense of patriotic sacrifice and communal spirit in everyday, mundane situations.