Since the illegal invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the Kremlin has been consistently disseminating falsehoods. The invasion saw the Russian military bombing Ukrainian cities, mercilessly claiming the lives of thousands of Ukrainians. The extensive web of lies crafted by the Russian government extends both within and beyond their borders, with a primary focus on placating a restive domestic population that is gradually awakening to the confines of their post-war reality.
This blog post will delve into the various misleading narratives propagated by the Kremlin, primarily targeting the citizens of Russia but also international audiences.
WEB OF LIES
1. No mobilization of Russian men needed, all is great with the "Special Military Operation"
In early September 2022, the Kremlin asserted that there were no intentions to mobilize Russian men for the aggressive invasion of Ukraine. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated on September 13 that, "At this point, no, there is no talk about it," responding to a journalist's inquiry. However, the harsh reality confronted the Russian population just a few days later on September 21, when President Vladimir Putin signed a decree declaring a partial mobilization of up to 300,000 recruits.
Contrary to initial assurances, the mobilization has continued unabated since September 2022, with an average of 20,000 men being called up each week. The majority of mobilized men are drawn from rural villages, small towns, and minority communities—groups less likely to attract widespread attention compared to individuals from major cities like St Petersburg or Moscow. The purpose is to replenish the ranks, compensating for the 15,000 to 20,000 soldiers who succumb to death on the Ukrainian front each month, resulting in a progressively stalling front.
Anticipation mounts among experts regarding the aftermath of the rigged March 2024 Presidential elections. Speculations revolve around the likelihood of Putin announcing another partial mobilization or, more direly, the implementation of a full-scale mobilization and a shift to a wartime economy across the entire country.
The Kremlin has streamlined the mobilization process by changing legislation to send military summons electronically. Once the document is received, it automatically prohibits the person from leaving the country, thereby avoiding the draft. If the person fails to appear at the draft office, they face quite strict punishments such as a ban on using their own car, selling property, or receiving a loan. They also have to pay a fine ranging from 500 to 3,000 rubles.
Mobilized individuals often lack adequate training, proper equipment, and arrive ill-prepared at the Ukrainian front. Frequently thrust into ongoing, intense battles, many perish or sustain injuries shortly after reaching their assigned battle zones.
Presently, Vladimir Putin is grappling with severe backlash over the seemingly unending mobilization. Wives and mothers of killed and wounded soldiers returning from the Ukrainian fronts voice their grievances, often receiving inadequate information about their loved ones' circumstances or whereabouts. The sick and injured are left to fend for themselves, falling short of the promised compensation and treatments pledged by the Russian state.
2. Russia has a "special military operation" going on and not a war
The Kremlin's persistent labeling of the illegal invasion of Ukraine as a "special military operation" serves as a propaganda tactic aimed at downplaying the gravity of the situation. In reality, Russia has initiated a full-scale war with Ukraine, marking the continuation of a bloody conflict that originated in the Donbass region in 2014 following the unlawful annexation of Crimea. This ongoing conflict represents the largest in Europe since World War II.
President Vladimir Putin violated his own legislation by declaring war in a televised speech in 2022, despite having made such declarations illegal since March of the same year. Putin asserted in a December 2022 press conference, "Our goal is not to spin this flywheel of a military conflict, but, on the contrary, to end this war."
The conflict in Ukraine meets the criteria for war as defined by the Geneva Conventions. It specifies that an international armed conflict occurs when one state party to the Conventions employs armed force against another state. Recognition of the state of war by only one party is sufficient. The mere act of a foreign army crossing a state boundary, even without using armed force, qualifies as an act of war.
Furthermore, the characterization of this conflict as a war is substantiated by the significant loss of equipment, the exorbitant costs, and the daily casualties suffered by both sides. Russia is incurring approximately 1,000 casualties per day, with a much higher number of wounded individuals in addition to that figure. The financial toll of the war for Russia amounts to an estimated US$500 million to US$1 billion per day. Over the nearly two-year-long conflict, Ukraine's Armed Forces have destroyed approximately US$34 billion worth of Russian military equipment.
3. NATO is picking a conflict with Russia
Since the initiation of the Ukrainian conflict, the Kremlin has consistently asserted that NATO's eastward expansion towards the Russian borders is a key factor behind the war. Another falsehood perpetuated by Putin is the notion that NATO is engaging in a full-fledged "proxy war" against Russia through Ukraine.
To clarify, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is a defensive alliance centered around the invocation of Article 5, which stipulates that if one NATO ally faces invasion or threat, all 31 member nations will collectively support the victim of aggression. Following the illegal invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia emerged as the most significant threat to NATO. This is not a result of NATO's aspirations to invade or intimidate Russia, but rather due to the continuous stream of threats originating from the Kremlin.
The escalating level of danger prompted Sweden and Finland to seek NATO membership in 2022. Finland gained approval as a full member in 2023, while Sweden's application is still pending. Throughout, the Alliance's stance has consistently emphasized seeking a peaceful resolution through negotiations. This approach was evident in the diplomatic efforts of various world leaders who attempted negotiations with Putin before the onset of the conflict in February 2022. However, NATO has also made it clear that it is well-prepared to address any visible threats or hostile actions from any nation, and the United States has stated multiple times that every inch of NATO territory will be defended.
4. Portraying Finland as a threat to Russia and a Nazi state
Recent statements from the Kremlin once again depict Finland as a threat to Russia, citing reasons such as Finland's decision to extend Eastern border closures until January 14, 2024, in response to the influx of illegal refugees directed towards Finland by Russian authorities. This strategy, viewed as a hybrid operation, seeks to undermine Finland on both the global and domestic fronts. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov emphasized that, "Finland should realize that it poses a threat to us."
Experts in Russian politics highlight that this mode of communication aligns with Russia's longer-term strategy to frame Finland's NATO membership and alleged Nazi elements as security threats. This narrative supports Putin's broader agenda of portraying Western countries, especially those supporting Ukraine within NATO, as hostile entities.
The Kremlin's assertions that Finland poses a threat extend globally through channels like Russia Today. These misleading statements should be understood within the context of Russia's increasingly restrictive political landscape. Putin is steering society and laws towards a more police state, reminiscent of the Soviet Union, fostering a perception of enemies of the Russian state at every turn. Despite specific references to Finland, these statements are seen as part of a persistent pattern, extending beyond the immediate border conflict to include damage to infrastructure, cyber attacks, and espionage cases.
Russia has initiated an investigation into Finland's actions in Karelia during the Second World War, alleging potential genocide in prison camps due to poor living and working conditions. The inquiry, announced by the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, focuses on Finland's role during the Continuation War (1941-1944), a period when Finland was a co-belligerent with Nazi Germany. Based on declassified documents from Russia's domestic intelligence agency, the investigation aims to examine the "genocide of the civilian population of the Karelian-Finnish Soviet Republic on racial grounds" under the Russian penal code.
The responsibility for the atrocities at Sandarmokh lies with the Soviet authorities and their policies during the Great Purge, rather than any external entity such as Finland. Sandarmokh now stands as a somber memorial, symbolizing the human cost of political oppression during one of the darkest periods in Soviet history.
Observers interpret this investigation as part of a recurring narrative that portrays Finland as a fascist enemy in the Soviet Union's fight against fascism. Critics argue that such historical revisitations serve strategic purposes to bolster political regimes, drawing parallels to current trends in Russia where historical research is limited, and there is reluctance to acknowledge any wrongdoing by the Red Army during the Great Patriotic War. The investigation into Finland's wartime actions is viewed as part of a broader pattern of historical revisionism, reflecting evolving political dynamics in Russia.
5. Russia's biggest lie that Europeans are suffering because of the sanctions
The conflict in Ukraine has triggered a surge in the prices of essential commodities such as food, electricity, and petrol, leading to a cost of living crisis in Europe and much of the Western world. However, the reality is not as dire as some Russian propaganda advertisements would have the Russian people believe. No one in Europe is facing life-threatening conditions due to cold or starvation caused by food shortages. Regrettably, the only ones experiencing food shortages and a return to the food lines reminiscent of Soviet times are the people of Russia.
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| A Russian propaganda ad implying that winter is warmer in Russia than Europe due to European gas shortages because of sanctions. |
Economists anticipate that Russia's economy will grow by 1.1% in 2024, a slower rate than initially projected, according to the International Monetary Fund. This adjustment follows substantial spending and resilient consumption in an already strained labor market, supporting a growth rate of 2.2% in 2023.
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| The five-year trajectory of the Russian ruble shows that March 2022 was the lowest point in the value of the currency. |
The Kremlin plans to allocate approximately a third of its increased budget spending in 2024 to defense, diverting more resources into the illegal invasion of Ukraine. In August 2023, it was disclosed that Russia had doubled its 2023 defense spending target.
The repercussions of the war have underscored the importance for nations to reduce dependence on Russia for oil, gas, and other resources. In the long run, Russia is poised to become a pariah on the world stage as its previous trading partners seek alternative sources to meet their energy needs. Alternatively, nations are inclined to become more self-sufficient. Even in a post-conflict world, it seems highly unlikely that Russia will maintain the same level of trade with Western countries as it enjoyed before the war.
CONCLUSION
The orchestrated attempt by Russia to peddle a contrived, victimized narrative to its own populace is evident. While desperately seeking support and sympathy for the war in Ukraine, the citizens themselves are growing increasingly disillusioned. Mothers and wives are reaching the point of exhaustion, mourning the return of their loved ones in body bags—husbands, brothers, and sons lost to the devastating conflict. Russian pensioners, burdened by soaring prices, grapple with the harsh reality of their meager pensions, struggling to afford basic necessities.
Simultaneously, the specter of mobilization and the looming threat of death on the frontlines instill profound fear in the hearts of young Russian men. The stark contrast between the government's narrative and the lived experiences of the citizens underscores a widening rift between the official rhetoric and the harsh, painful realities faced by the people of Russia.
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