Russia, losing in Ukraine, abruptly changes its propaganda narrative

Russia has radically changed its main propaganda narrative in the war against Ukraine.

Starting with its large-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Kremlin’s key narrative directed at Western audiences was that Russia will win in Ukraine no matter what. Ukraine will be subordinated to Putin’s iron will. Sanctions against Russia and Western arms supplies to Ukraine will only prolong Ukraine’s agony and lead to additional casualties. They will not prevent Ukraine’s military defeat — or so the reasoning went.

The logic that Russia tried to convey to the West was that Western attempts to help Ukraine would only lead to the loss of money spent on military and material aid to Ukraine. Help for Ukraine would only mean more victims — there was no chance of preventing Russia from conquering Ukraine.

This Russian narrative was actively promoted at all levels of propaganda and had a significant impact on sentiment among European and American elites regarding aid to Ukraine. The narrative of inevitable Russian victory persisted from the beginning of the 2022 large-scale invasion. But just now, four and a half years later, the obvious disconnect between this narrative and the real state of affairs on the front line has become obvious to everyone — even to Russia’s most ardent apologists.

For politicians, journalists and military experts following the war between Russia and Ukraine, it has already become obvious that Russia cannot conquer the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine even at enormous cost in lives and treasure. Massive daily Ukrainian drone........

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