literally - a cotton padded jacket, used by Russian soldiers during Second world war.
In movies and postcards
Russian soldier often portrayed in vatnik jacket and with PPSH-41 machine gun
modern pejorative - a Putin’s supporter, a Russian fully loyal to the government and approving
everything what they do, including but not limited to: annexation of Crimea, war against Ukraine, hatred towards USA, NATO and West in general
typical cliches which vatniks believe in and repeat:
-Russia has it’s own special mission in history
-USA and NATO are our enemies and want to destroy us
-Ukraine is nazi
-Ukrainian president is puppet of the USA
-Crimea is ours
-We can repeat it! (a patriotic meme related to the victory over Germany in II WW)