Originated from Kosovo war in 1999.
Russian peacekeeping force soldiers called American soldiers pindos or pendos because they looked funny and fat,
like penguins, in full combat ammunition.
Later, the word carried over to whole American citizens as pejorative. Also,
USA = Pendostan or Pindostan (country of Pindos)
Russian
army general to the officers of peacekeeping
force in Kosovo:
-Dear officers. I'm politely asking you to
stop calling pindos by "pindos". They are very offended by this