The No Russian meme originates from the controversial mission in the 2009 video game Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. The phrase is spoken by the antagonist Vladimir Makarov before entering the Zakhaev International Airport, instructing his team to avoid speaking Russian to frame the United States for the attack. In internet culture, the image of the squad exiting the elevator has become a template for approaching a situation with extreme focus, intensity, or destructive intent. It is frequently used in gaming communities to signal the start of a serious match or a chaotic online event.