- 2 days ago
Unmasking Russian Propaganda: How It Shapes Minds and Fuels the War in Ukraine
👉 What World Leaders NEED to Know about Russia: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6d9EIByxz1AdkmIOYUlrDd0rmByq5zSN
In this video, I take you on an in-depth exploration of Russian propaganda and its inner workings. I break down how propaganda shapes public opinion and controls the mindset of millions. We also examine the different groups behind this machine—television propagandists, ideologues, paid commentators, and the Z community—and how they all contribute to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Video Chapters.
0:00 Welcome to Russian Propaganda Machine
00:27 The Fears Exploited by Propaganda
04:34 Fears of People Who Are Not Affected by Propaganda
07:02 Restoration of the Empire
10:55 Revanchism and Militarism
12:33 Putin the Great
13:54 The Cult of the Great Patriotic War
15:54 Russophobia
18:27 Corruption, Deception, and Theft Everywhere
21:10 NATO at the Gates
22:56 Denial of Mistakes and Guilt
24:31 Fighting the Ukrainian “Nazies”
27:45 All of You Are Like This
28:50 The New World Order
29:44 Homophobia
31:13 Xenophobia
32:29 Family Values
34:27 God Is With Us
35:30 Victims of Propaganda
37:24
👉 What World Leaders NEED to Know about Russia: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6d9EIByxz1AdkmIOYUlrDd0rmByq5zSN
In this video, I take you on an in-depth exploration of Russian propaganda and its inner workings. I break down how propaganda shapes public opinion and controls the mindset of millions. We also examine the different groups behind this machine—television propagandists, ideologues, paid commentators, and the Z community—and how they all contribute to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Video Chapters.
0:00 Welcome to Russian Propaganda Machine
00:27 The Fears Exploited by Propaganda
04:34 Fears of People Who Are Not Affected by Propaganda
07:02 Restoration of the Empire
10:55 Revanchism and Militarism
12:33 Putin the Great
13:54 The Cult of the Great Patriotic War
15:54 Russophobia
18:27 Corruption, Deception, and Theft Everywhere
21:10 NATO at the Gates
22:56 Denial of Mistakes and Guilt
24:31 Fighting the Ukrainian “Nazies”
27:45 All of You Are Like This
28:50 The New World Order
29:44 Homophobia
31:13 Xenophobia
32:29 Family Values
34:27 God Is With Us
35:30 Victims of Propaganda
37:24
Category
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LearningTranscript
00:00Hey everyone, my name is Elvira Barry. I am an author born in the USSR and today we are going
00:07to take a tour of the world of Russian military propaganda and see how it's all set up. In this
00:14world we'll find real devils, suffocating clouds of lies and scorching frying pans of hatred where
00:22the souls of sinners are being fried. In other words, welcome to hell!
00:33Propaganda only works when it taps into a person's deep-rooted fears. It's especially
00:39powerful when someone or their loved ones has experienced something truly awful and they
00:45are terrified it might happen again. The main fears of modern Russians can be divided into
00:51the following categories. External attack. The reasons for this are well known. During
00:57World War II, the USSR lost tens of millions of people. There wasn't a single family that
01:03didn't have someone killed in that war. Economic collapse. This is a fear that Russians have
01:10lived through at least four times in their last hundred years. The first was the civil war
01:16after the Bolshevik Revolution. The second was during Stalin's industrialization when the
01:22country's resources were all diverted to building up the military industry. The third was the devastation
01:29after World War II. The fourth was the collapse of the Soviet Union. An important side note. Diplomacy,
01:37peace, and healthy relationships between nations are only possible when people study each other's
01:42history and culture and understand each other's motivations. That's why I write historical novels about the
01:49most important events that shaped Russia into what it is today. Its roots lie in the Russian Empire and
01:57especially in the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917. This period is the focus of my novel Russian Treasures.
02:04Click the link in the description to learn more. The next fear is nuclear war. Back in Soviet times,
02:11we were constantly terrified that the Americans would drop a nuclear bomb on our peaceful cities. It's a
02:17childhood trauma for my entire generation. This generation and those who are older than us are
02:23the decision makers in Russia today. Next fear. The disintegration of the country. This fear revolves
02:30around the loss of national identity. I've had many conversations with immigrants from smaller countries
02:37like Bulgaria, Romania, Denmark, and others. They don't have the slightest desire to consider themselves
02:43citizens of a great power. But for Russians, this is hugely important. When your personal life feels
02:51insignificant and there's little to be proud of, you make up for it by being proud of your country.
02:58But if the country breaks apart, then who are you? Just a poor resident of the Republic of Penza or
03:06the
03:06Kingdom of Yekaterinburg? Moreover, the disintegration of the country is associated with defeat and economic
03:15collapse. And that's just awful. Next fear. Sexualized violence. During the Soviet era, millions of people
03:23went through prison. And social hierarchies there were often based on who had subjected whom to sexual violence.
03:31To be a rooster or a passive gay man in prison slang was to sink to the very bottom of
03:38the social ladder.
03:39Next fear. The fear of rejection. We are not liked. We are never accepted anywhere. We are hated and
03:46always mistreated. This fear likely stems from the childhood trauma of a typical Soviet child who was
03:53bullied and felt utterly powerless while the adults around them remained indifferent.
03:59The fear that authority, the one in church, can be wrong. Since ordinary people have no say in political
04:07or financial decisions, they must rely on their wisdom and foresight of their rulers. If their
04:13authorities make a mistake, it could lead to disaster. But if they are right, everything will be fine.
04:20So people just hope that their rulers know what they are doing.
04:24All of these fears are fully exploited by propaganda and that's why it's so effective.
04:31But only in certain social circles.
04:40But why doesn't propaganda work on everyone? Because not all Russians have these fears.
04:46People who have traveled the world, speak foreign languages and have a decent education are scared
04:53by entirely different things. They fear the destruction of the familiar world. A new wave of purges like
05:01those on the Stalin. Repression, mass arrests and torture. Many people are afraid that their country
05:08will be completely closed off. The internet will be blocked and Russia will turn into North Korea.
05:14They are scared to fly on airplanes because Russian planes are no longer properly maintained.
05:20They are scared to get seriously ill because many essential medications are simply unavailable.
05:27There are no sanctions of these drugs but they still don't get purchased because payment is nearly
05:34impossible due to the sanctions. And of course, the government is funneling money into war rather than
05:42healthcare. Business owners are afraid they'll have to close their businesses because they can't import
05:49the necessary supplies. If it's a large business, they fear it might be taken away because it might
05:56catch the eye of those in power. People are also afraid that their children won't have a future and that
06:04they'll be corrupted the way Hitler, Pol Pot and Mao corrupted their youth, turning them into soulless fanatics.
06:12But these fears can't be spoken aloud. In fact, if someone starts voicing these concerns,
06:19they could end up in prison for a long time. That's why we have no idea how many people are
06:24truly
06:25influenced by official propaganda and how many are not. We can only judge by indirect signs or by asking
06:32friends and acquaintances. In general, sociology doesn't work in Russia because people are afraid to answer
06:38questions. The choice is simple. Do you support the president or should we throw you in prison for five
06:46years? Under those circumstances, a person will of course say that they support everything, even if
06:54that's not true at all. Now, let's break down the official Russian narrative and see what's wrong with it.
07:08Once upon a time, there was a wonderful country, the USSR, which defeated the Nazis and strived to build
07:14communism. Everyone was given apartments for free. People lived simply but harmoniously. Everyone helped
07:21each other. Everyone was fed. Great works of art were created. We flew into space and we won Olympic golds.
07:29But then, Gorbachev and his American buddies destroyed this wonderful country and handed it over to the
07:35oligarchs who looted the nation's wealth and started smuggling money out of the country. Then came President
07:42Putin, who gradually restored order. Life got much better. Many people bought cars and apartments. Private
07:50businesses sprouted and people started going to resorts. The demographic situation improved. Alcohol
07:57consumption went down and the prison population shrank. Putin made Russia a great country again,
08:05well respected on the world stage. He defeated ISIS and, most importantly, started reclaiming the lands
08:12that initially, by right, belonged to the USSR. Crimea, which was seized from Ukraine in 2014, was the crown
08:21jewel of the Russian Empire. It's not just about the important ports on the Black Sea.
08:27In the mind of an average Russian, Crimea is the land of happiness. The climate there is similar to
08:33Northern California, but the sea is much warmer. People used to vacation there to bask in the sun
08:39and swim in the sea. And for many current Russian officials who come from families in the old Soviet
08:46elite, Crimea is associated with childhood nostalgia. In short, it's a place of immense value. And they believe
08:55that if something you love belongs to someone else who clearly mishandling it, you take it back.
09:03Some people in the West support the idea of spheres of influence and believe that the Russian government
09:10has the right to claim any territory within their zone. They fail to see the people living there as
09:17individuals with their own opinions and desires. The call to give Ukraine to Russia essentially means
09:23give Putin millions of people and let them live in their prior state under sanctions, without rights,
09:30and with bleak prospects for the future. This may seem easy when Ukrainian is just an abstraction. But if you
09:39look a living person in the eyes and tell them their life and future merely part of a sphere of
09:45influence
09:46for some old man in Moscow, then who are you? But Russia will ultimately fail in its imperialistic dream.
09:54In modern times, the desire to restore the empire only arises in those who are ignorant of history,
10:02economics, and demography. The age of empires ended because would-be imperialists didn't have an
10:09abundance of young men they would send off to conquer and colonize other countries. Russia's demographic
10:15pyramid looks like this. Young Russian men in their 20s and 30s are in short supply and they can't even
10:23meet the needs of the country. That's why Russia is experiencing a severe labor shortage right now.
10:30And that's despite the fact that many hundreds of young men are dying and being maimed every day on
10:36the front lines in Ukraine. Empires can only be dreamed of when every family have several spare boys. But
10:45when you have one precious son, forget about world domination. It's not going to happen even if you
10:51have all the money in the world. Which is not our case.
11:01Revanchism is the backbone of modern Russian propaganda. The empire is presented as an
11:06absolute value, one worth fighting and dying for. Transnistria, Georgia, Ukraine, and all the other
11:13former Soviet republics are seen as our lands that were taken from us. Who took them? The damned West.
11:20The defeat in the Cold War must be reversed and we need to return to the glory days when the
11:26USSR had its
11:27own sphere of influence and could do whatever it wanted within its borders. And if the West resists,
11:35we threaten them with oil and gas cuts and nuclear weapons. There's a popular saying in Russian internet
11:43circles, a nation that doesn't respect its army will soon be feeding someone else's. Propaganda does
11:50everything it can to instill pride in Russia's tanks, rockets, and soldiers. People slap stickers on their
11:57cars that read March on Berlin. We can do it again. And political talk show hosts confidently threaten to
12:05turn the US into radioactive ash. But revanchism won't work either. Anyone can compare the economic and
12:13scientific potential of Russia and the West. Militarism will end as soon as oil prices fall. And the
12:21government won't be able to finance its costly foreign policy escapades. I have a separate video on this
12:27topic. Check it out. I explain where Russian leaders get the money to fund their wars.
12:39Propaganda portrays Putin as the only leader capable of securing Russian interests in an increasingly
12:45hostile world. For many, the very idea of replacing him is deeply unsettling. For the first time in
12:53history, the Russian population has seen slight improvements in their standards of living over the
12:58past few decades. And they are terrified of losing that progress. This improvement in quality of life
13:05was largely driven by high oil prices, which provided the Russian government with ample funds for military
13:13ventures, lavish lifestyles of officials, and improvements to urban infrastructure. People who have
13:20never studied history on economics often attribute these successes to Putin since they occurred during his time
13:28in power. But the image of Putin as the only viable option didn't happen by chance. Over the years, he
13:35has
13:35systematically purged any competition, ensuring that no other political figures rise to challenge his
13:43leadership. Opponents have been silenced, either through imprisonment, exile, or murder, while alternative
13:50voices have been stiffed by state-controlled media.
13:59The USSR's greatest legacy is a completely atomized society that doesn't believe in the possibility of
14:06collective action. But the soul still craves it. Furthermore, the soul craves religious experience.
14:13But religion was crushed in the USSR and several generations grew up disconnected from religious
14:20traditions. Faith in communist ideology somewhat filled this void. But after the collapse of the USSR,
14:28a large gap appeared. The only thing that unites the deeply divided Russian society is the celebration
14:35of Victory Day on May 9th. In the late USSR, this was a day of nationwide remembrance for the fallen.
14:44People would take flowers to monuments and graves, host dinners, and attend parades. Veterans, of course,
14:51did not like to talk about the war, but as they died off, the holiday took on an entirely new
14:57meaning.
14:58The idea we liberated the world from the Nazis and the damned West doesn't appreciate it and tries to
15:04claim our victory became central. May 9th gatherings began to resemble a religious procession. Only instead
15:12of icons, citizens carried large portraits of their relatives who fought in their great patriotic war.
15:19This procession is called the Immortal Regiment. This is a true cult of ancestors and it is heavily fueled
15:27from the top. Corresponding symbols, uniforms, greeting cards, and ritual songs have all appeared.
15:35Must-produced, highly sentimental films are made which hold as much truth as Goebbels' propaganda.
15:42Talking about the problems, mistakes, and crimes of that war is forbidden. That would be sacrilege
15:49and Russophobia, which is anti-Russian sentiment.
15:59Russophobia is a term invented by the Kremlin's propaganda machine. The idea behind it is that
16:05people in the West are inherently biased and unfair toward Russia, so we can never expect a fair
16:12evaluation of ourselves or our actions. If you look it up in Russian Wikipedia, you'll find a huge
16:19article about how we are disliked and have always been. There is no sign of Russophobia if a person
16:26studies foreign languages and starts reading and communicating with people from other countries.
16:31If you behave decently, no one in the civilized world will accuse you of being of the wrong
16:37nationality. I have experienced it firsthand. I have lived in the West for 20 years and had never
16:44encountered any Russophobia. However, there are few exceptions to this rule. Immediately after the
16:53war started in February 2022, an employee from Ukraine at a large American IT company where my
16:59friend works wrote in their corporate chat that all Russians should be fired immediately and completely
17:06avoided. This person was under extreme stress and desperately wanted to help his country but
17:13didn't know how. So he came up with this brilliant idea. But it was quickly explained to him that a
17:20developed civilization is based on individual, not collective responsibility. And if he suggests
17:26punishing innocent people simply because of their nationality, then how is he any different from Putin and
17:33his cronies? It's important to note that people with Russian citizenship indeed face problems when they flee the
17:43country because of war. But only if they are poor. If they are fled Russia carrying just a suitcase,
17:50they can't open bank accounts. It's extremely hard for them to find work in Europe. Occasionally, they
17:57encounter rude and ignorant people who put up signs saying no Russians served or harass them if they hear
18:03Russian-spoken in the street. But the wealthy people and the Russian officials have no problem keeping their
18:12money in Western banks, buying property or going on vacation to the best European resorts. Somehow,
18:21they cry about Russophobia at every opportunity, but don't practice what they preach.
18:32Every citizen of the Russian Federation knows that corruption, lies and widespread theft
18:38dominate the country. But propaganda convinces people that this is the way things are everywhere.
18:45And it's the norm. Complaining is pointless, fighting is futile and the only option is to accept the system.
18:54To reinforce this idea, the media selectively presents news that supports the narrative. See?
19:02Their politicians are just like us. So why do they keep lecturing us on human rights?
19:10Probably because of Russophobia. The same message is drilled into the minds of foreign viewers and readers
19:17through social media and commentators who are eagerly repeating the opinions they've been fed.
19:23Do you know what they called it in Russia? Useful idiots. When I was younger, Soviet television
19:29constantly broadcasted how bad things were in Western Europe and the US. Soviet correspondents
19:34didn't fabricate anything. They simply showed one side of the story while concealing the other,
19:41creating a skewed image. For example, they would visit areas with homeless people and sadly remark,
19:49this is how modern Americans live. The same thing is happening now. A piece of news is exaggerated to
19:58create a narrative that the West is falling apart. Unemployment, homelessness,
20:03people can't afford food, and children are taken from families and raised by gay couples.
20:10Furthermore, there are constant natural disasters, which are presented as punishment for their sins.
20:17Just recently, there were fires in Los Angeles, and I received a flood of messages from my Russian readers
20:24urging me to move back to Russia. Everything has burned down over there.
20:29This narrative serves two purposes. First, it suppresses the will to resist in Russia.
20:34If human rights, fair elections, and systems of checks and balances don't work,
20:39there's no point in challenging the regime. Second, it breaks the will of people in the West,
20:46instilling uncertainty and apathy. When I see people in the US or other democratic countries say,
20:52it's all the same as in Russia. I can't help but sigh. It's simply untrue. This idea has been pushed
21:00by
21:00those who know exactly how to manipulate your emotions, and person who does not trust those
21:06around them can't resist. They are already defeated.
21:15After the collapse of the USSR, Eastern European countries began joining NATO one by one.
21:21This military defensive alliance, designed to help members in the event of military aggression,
21:27immediately raised alarms among Russian leaders.
21:29It doesn't matter what the people of Poland, the Czech Republic, and other countries want.
21:37It doesn't matter that they have every reason to fear aggression from Russia,
21:42as each of these countries has suffered from Russian imperialism.
21:46What matters is that they left Russia's sphere of influence, undermining its power and significance.
21:54The idea of Ukraine seeking closer ties with Europe and applying for NATO membership
21:59was simply unacceptable. Once again, it doesn't matter what the Ukrainians want.
22:05It doesn't matter that they have every reason to fear aggression.
22:09What truly matters is that by joining NATO, Ukraine could potentially receive support from
22:15other member states. But of course, Russian propagandists don't frame it this way.
22:21They presented NATO's presence at its border as a direct threat to Russia's security,
22:26conveniently ignoring the fact that Russia has bordered NATO since 1949 when Norway joined the alliance.
22:34Why would NATO members want to attack Russia? Because you, ladies and gentlemen,
22:40are eager to seize Russia's natural resources and enslave its people.
22:44This idea deeply disturbs Russia's elites, as they believe only they have the right to exploit
22:51Russia's resources and enslave its people and no one else.
23:00A great power cannot make mistakes, and its high-ranking official cannot be held accountable for anything.
23:08Therefore, when something terrible happens, propaganda quickly shifts the blame onto someone else.
23:13In 2014, Russian troops who invaded Donbass shot down Malaysia airline flight MH17. 298 people died.
23:23There's ample evidence that Russians were responsible, but they still denied and claimed the plane was downed by Ukrainians.
23:31The invasion of Crimea and Donbass was also disguised.
23:35It was supposedly not the professional army, but the local residents who somehow managed to acquire weapons and military equipment.
23:44Who bombed Aleppo?
23:46No idea.
23:47Who interfered with the U.S. elections and flooded social media with bots?
23:52Oh, you did it deliberately to frame us.
23:56Who poisoned Alexei Navalny?
23:59He just died?
24:01Who staged a massacre in Ukrainian cities in Bucha and Irpen?
24:06Ukrainians blew themselves up and shot each other to accuse the innocent occupiers.
24:11Lies and the refusal to acknowledge mistakes are just ridiculous.
24:16It's not even villain-like.
24:19It's childish.
24:20Can you imagine Genghis Khan, after sacking a city, shyly looking away and saying,
24:25Oh, that's not me.
24:28Maybe the locals destroyed the city themselves.
24:35For a long time, the war in Ukraine was not seen as a war with the Ukrainian people.
24:41After all, a large number of Russians have relatives and friends there.
24:45How could our people kill those just like us, right?
24:50The war was framed as being against Ukrainian Nazis, who allegedly oppressed Russians in
24:57Eastern Ukraine and forbid everybody from speaking Russian.
25:00The Ukrainian revolution, which saw the pro-Russian president oust in Kyiv,
25:05was viewed as a direct attack on Russia.
25:09The Ukrainian people couldn't have done it themselves, right?
25:12After all, who would want to leave the Kremlin's sphere of influence?
25:16It was all the work of the Americans, who first stirred up revolutions in Arab countries
25:23and then turned their sides on Russia, or rather its sphere of influence.
25:29I specifically asked people who believed in the existence of Ukrainian Nazis
25:34where they got this idea.
25:37The answer is simple.
25:38First, they saw countless images on TV of Ukrainian marches
25:43with torches and slogans defending Ukrainian language, culture, and so on.
25:47Then, the Internet was flooded with photos of Ukrainian Nazis featuring swastika tattoos and flags.
25:55When I was sent one of those images to prove the existence of Ukrainian Nazis,
26:00I traced their original photo via Google.
26:02And there were no swastika in it.
26:05I found the swastika from the picture in the Russian search engine Yandex,
26:10where it was the first image that appeared under the search term swastika on a transparent background.
26:17Someone just pieces it all together in Photoshop.
26:21Do you think this convinced the person who sent me the image? No?
26:26He claimed that Ukrainian Nazis intentionally spread fake images to confuse people and cover their tracks.
26:33As for the claim that Russian-speaking people in Donbas were attacked for speaking their native language,
26:40here are the undeniable facts.
26:43Kharkiv, a large Ukrainian city right on the Russian border,
26:47has historically had Russian as the first language for many of its inhabitants.
26:52So, how is that Ukrainian Nazis supposedly mistreated Russian speakers in Donbas,
27:00but not in neighboring Kharkiv?
27:03I have more to say on this topic.
27:06Over the last decade, I taught creative writing in Russian.
27:09Half of my students were Ukrainians,
27:12and we are talking about tens of thousands of aspiring authors, bloggers and journalists.
27:18Why do you think they choose to learn how to write in Russian,
27:21if supposedly this language was being suppressed by Nazis?
27:27Because it wasn't.
27:28People chose Russian because almost everyone in Ukraine speaks it,
27:32and the publishing industry in Russian was far more profitable than in Ukrainian.
27:38However, after the invasion, many people no longer want to use Russian,
27:42as it has become a symbol of aggression.
27:49Now, the Russian propaganda machine promotes the idea that all Ukrainians are Nazis who hate everything Russian.
27:56Here's how it works.
27:57An army of paid commentators posing as Ukrainians is unleashed on social media.
28:03They write insults and completely unjust accusations in Russian,
28:08accusing Russian anti-war opposition members and intellectuals of imperialism,
28:13of wanting to continue the war and of other sins.
28:16They attack in facts, creating the illusion that all Ukrainians are like this,
28:22and that the dialogue with them is impossible.
28:26In response, Russians start to snap back and the Kremlin gets exactly what it wants.
28:34No alliance between the Russian opposition and Ukrainians is possible.
28:38The same thing happens on Ukrainian social media.
28:43Paid commentators attack impacts, create turmoil, and fuel hatred between the two nations.
28:54Russian officials declared that they would create a new world order
28:58and unite with countries of the global South to challenge the United States.
29:04They formed The BRICS, an organization that includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa,
29:11Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates.
29:16The goal is to create an alternative to the J7 and form a new economic bloc.
29:22All of this is presented as a major foreign policy achievement.
29:26In reality, these countries are heavily dependent on the Western economy
29:30because their domestic markets along are insufficient for sustainable development.
29:36The same goes for technology.
29:38The West remains influential precisely because it is indispensable.
29:49Why does the LGBTQ topic cause such anxiety among Russian officials?
29:53It seems like nobody should care who sleeps with whom, right?
29:58Oh, no.
30:00The reason is that prison culture, with its high population in Russia, has a very strong influence
30:07on society.
30:07This particularly affects the authorities, who are deeply and closely connected with the criminal world.
30:14For many, homosexuality is simply inconceivable.
30:18It is unfathomable that anyone would choose to become a rooster.
30:23This must mean that someone corrupted them.
30:26Evil forces made them turn away from normal life and fall to the very bottom.
30:31And since the West encourages gay people, this is seen as their ultimate evil.
30:38This ideology is taken to the extreme and widely propagated.
30:41What's more, the state has banned the promotion of LGBTQ rights.
30:46Gay are actively persecuted.
30:48And on the ground, there is a real witch hunt.
30:52You can write about gays, tell their stories, or even remotely express support for them.
30:58Rumor has it that the government bans gay propaganda not because they are afraid or irritated by gays,
31:04but because there are quite a few gay politicians and high officials in Russia.
31:09And that's something that can be discussed.
31:12Hence the ban.
31:18Xenophobia is another popular topic.
31:21In the USSR, it was primarily directed at Jews.
31:24If you're interested in learning more about Jews in the USSR, let me know in the comments.
31:30However, in recent years, xenophobia has expanded to target people from Central Asia
31:36who have come to Russia as labor migrants.
31:39The recent terrorist attack at Krokos City Hall, which resulted in 145 fatalities and 551 injuries,
31:47has only fueled the hatred toward these migrants.
31:50The problem lies in the fact that if migrants are not allowed to bring their families,
31:55it often leads to increased violence and sexual crimes.
31:59But if they do bring their wives and children, Russian cities and villages begin to feel
32:03replaced by Tajik, Uzbeks, and Kyrgyz.
32:07This issue seems to have no simple solution.
32:10While Russia's birth rate has dropped, Central Asian countries don't face this problem.
32:15And the math is clear.
32:17But no matter how many passionate posts Russian nationalists write on social media,
32:21migrants from Central Asia will continue to come because there's simply no one else to work on
32:27construction sites and in agriculture.
32:34Another key idea for Russian propaganda is traditional family values.
32:39Officially, the state supports large families, protects motherhood and childhood,
32:45and aligns itself with those who are willing to defend humanity from moral decay.
32:50Primarily, this is done to form foreign political alliances.
32:55Unlike the USSR, modern Russia has little to offer the world in terms of ideology.
32:59So how does it distinguish us from them?
33:04By proclaiming that we stand for purity and morality.
33:08But if we look at the reality on the ground, the picture is quite different.
33:13In 2024, for every 10 marriages, there were 8 divorces.
33:18In 2022, for every 100 births, there were 39 abortions.
33:25In 2024, Russia recorded a 14-year high in serious crimes, more than 684,000 cases.
33:34It's also worth looking at the biographies of Russia's top political officials.
33:39What's their stance of family values?
33:42Vladimir Putin divorced his wife, doesn't acknowledge his adult daughters,
33:47and refers to them as those women.
33:50He has an official family with Alina Kabaeva, a gymnast 31 years his junior,
33:56and a daughter from his mistress.
33:58The same pattern can be seen in the family lives of many Russian officials,
34:03as it reflects the broader cultural norms.
34:06A successful alpha male is expected to have an unofficial harem and demonstrate his masculinity
34:13by engaging in affairs with numerous beautiful women.
34:17As political scientist Ekaterina Shulman aptly put it,
34:21Russia is ruled by all libertines who can't even remember what their own children look like.
34:31After the collapse of the USSR, a massive number of churches were built in Russia.
34:36Priests are invited to all significant events, prayers are said,
34:41and everything from spacecraft to missiles intended to fall on Ukraine is blessed.
34:47Traditional icons have become a must-have in their offices of officials.
34:52Why?
34:53Because the president believes it's the right thing to do.
34:56He himself is deeply religious and firmly believes he has a special relationship with God.
35:02I'll explain why this is so in one of my upcoming videos,
35:06where I will examine Vladimir Putin's psychological profile.
35:09If you are interested, subscribe and stay tuned for updates.
35:13In reality, Russia is a deeply secular country.
35:16According to official statistics, 73% of the population identifies as Christian,
35:23but only 15% go to church regularly at least once a month.
35:27And those who do are mostly elderly.
35:34When the war began, many Russian intellectuals were horrified.
35:39It was unfathomable.
35:41How could people support this war?
35:43Maybe they just didn't know.
35:46Maybe they needed to be explained what was happening.
35:50During the first year of the war,
35:52the Russian internet was ablaze with heated debates as anti-war.
35:57Individuals tried to reason with those who believed in state propaganda.
36:01But nothing came of it.
36:03Every argument was dismissed.
36:05Logic didn't matter.
36:06And in response to any counterpoint, the Patriot would claim,
36:11you are all being zombified by the West.
36:14And you can see the obvious.
36:16The official propaganda presented the following formula.
36:20We are a great country.
36:23We will defeat everyone.
36:25And everything will be fine for us.
36:27You don't have to do anything.
36:29Think about anything or make tough decisions.
36:31The government will tell you what to do.
36:35All your problems stem from the schemes of the West and Russian traitors.
36:40The opposing side offered a different formula.
36:43We are citizens of an aggressive nation,
36:46committing unimaginable crimes against our neighbors, friends, and relatives.
36:51We will all be held accountable.
36:53We are headed for shame, sanctions, and economic ruin.
36:58So which version do you think people prefer to believe?
37:01Just to feel bad about themselves.
37:04It seemed that by the third year of the war, people should have figured out what was true and what
37:11was false.
37:12But in reality, those who believe the propaganda don't want to figure anything out.
37:17It's too scary, too shameful, and too painful.
37:20They are simply protecting themselves from self-destruction.
37:28First and foremost, this group includes older people.
37:32Many individuals over 60 generally believe everything they see on TV.
37:37There are countless heartbreaking situations where people have argued with their parents, tried to convince them of the truth, and
37:44ended up either cutting off communication or avoiding difficult topics altogether.
37:50There are likely several reasons for this.
37:54The older generation is accustomed not to seek information, instead trusting whatever the television tells them.
38:01This mindset was ingrained in them as children raised in the USSR, where there was only one narrative, one truth,
38:09and no moral dilemmas.
38:13The older generation relies on government pensions, which makes them entirely dependent on the state.
38:20They cannot change their fate, live or achieve independence.
38:24Conflict with the government causes them subconscious terror, so they automatically, by definition, side with it.
38:31The older generation is nostalgic for their youth, and the idea of restoring the USSR seems attractive to them.
38:38Back then, we lived so harmoniously, so well.
38:42In reality, there wasn't much harmony or comfort, but memories of youth are always romanticized.
38:49It's important to note that nearly all high-ranking officials fall into this category.
38:55They don't speak foreign languages, don't use the internet much at all, and they can't stand any criticism or disapproval
39:03because in Russian culture this is seen as undermining their social status.
39:08As a result, they filter out any negative information, creating their own informational bubble that feeds itself.
39:16Here's how it works.
39:17Remove everyone from television who promotes an alternative opinion, then watch that same TV and base your worldview on it,
39:25drawing conclusions from what you see.
39:27If any negative information somehow reaches the higher echelons, it's immediately dismissed as Western propaganda, because it doesn't match their
39:36familiar worldview.
39:42There's a whole group of people who call themselves Russian patriots.
39:48They passionately love their homeland and sincerely believe in everything we've mentioned above.
39:54They don't pretend to support Putin's actions, they truly believe that Ukraine should not exist as an independent state, that
40:02the Ukrainian nation doesn't exist, they are just lost Russians.
40:06This group resembles the German romantics of the 19th century.
40:12They endlessly discuss the distant past, their messianic ideas, and the great Russian culture.
40:18They write uplifting poems, paint pictures, and hold all sorts of events.
40:24In essence, they are religious fanatics who believe in their great mission.
40:28These people live in a fantasy world where reality simply doesn't match their imagination.
40:35But that doesn't bother them.
40:37Most of them have a shallow understanding of history, hold extreme nationalist view, and have little grasp of how other
40:45nations live and what they experience.
40:52In Russia, unfortunately, there is a widespread desire to join those who are winning.
40:58Many people are technically against the war, but since they are already started, they wish for Putin to win.
41:05After all, it's better than losing.
41:07The narrative that only traitors can be against their people in difficult times is gaining traction.
41:13It's important to mention that patriotism is often used as a cover for those who don't have any real convictions
41:20and are simply profiting from the war.
41:23This can take many forms.
41:25Some get government contracts, some keep their well-paying jobs, some work at military factories earning much more than before
41:32while avoiding the risk of potential mobilization.
41:35I've been told multiple times about wives pursuing their husbands to enlist in the army to defend the motherland.
41:43The catch is that this defense might end in death or injury, but that's okay.
41:50The family of the dead or wounded will receive huge sums of money by the standards of Russia's rural areas.
41:58There's also this example.
42:00Before the war, many Ukrainians came to Russia for work.
42:04Ukraine was much poorer, so talented young men and women came to Moscow and St. Petersburg with little more than
42:10a suitcase, trying desperately to establish themselves.
42:14Some of them made great careers.
42:16And now, with the war underway, these people faced a moral dilemma.
42:20Should they abandon everything they've built and return to Ukraine to save their country,
42:25or should they defend their life choices in the hope that the Russians won't remember that they are from the
42:32enemy camp?
42:33Of course, many made a deal with the devil.
42:41Russian propaganda doesn't want people to have a clear picture of the world in their minds.
42:46Clarity of thought leads to action.
42:48It's much more beneficial to flood a person with information and give them dozens of versions of events that contradict
42:56each other.
42:57Who has time to sort through all of this?
42:59Especially when the events in question are far away and don't seem particularly irrelevant to you.
43:06That's what happened with the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17.
43:12They immediately threw out a dozen versions of the story.
43:16The same thing happened with the invasion of Ukraine.
43:19It was all too complicated, too confusing.
43:22So it was easier to say to themselves,
43:25we'll never know the whole truth, avoid forming any opinion and go on with their everyday lives.
43:32People who adopt the not-everything-is-so-clear-cut approach
43:35don't even realize that they are victims of propaganda
43:39and that the authorities are intentionally confusing them.
43:48The largest group of Russians consists of those who do their best to ignore the war.
43:54They don't want to talk about it and just try to live their lives.
43:58They have no opinion about what's happening.
44:01They don't watch propaganda and aren't interested in politics.
44:05Their world consists of work, family affairs, vacations, and small joys.
44:10They know something bad is happening in the country, but any attempt to drag them into politics
44:15triggers immediate resistance.
44:18We can't change anything anyway.
44:21This is their typical statement.
44:23These people don't support the war and would be relieved if it ended.
44:27However, many work in military enterprises, courts, the police, and schools
44:31contributing to the state's totalitarian system.
44:35Some of them even sign contracts to fight in Ukraine.
44:39This all happens without malice or much regret.
44:43After all, it's just a job and they need to provide for their families.
44:48The indifferent also don't realize that they are victims of propaganda and that the idea that
44:56nothing depends on them has been deliberately drilled into their heads for decades.
45:01If you can't change anything, go along with the system.
45:05Take advantage of opportunities as they arise and avoid sticking your neck out or taking initiative,
45:13because doing so will result in severe punishment.
45:17These people will accept any outcome of the war, even if the government says the true purpose of the
45:25attack on Kyiv was to dispose of the Black Sea Fleet and oil processing plants so they wouldn't
45:30pollute the environment.
45:36We can also consider refugees and those who resisted the propaganda but still
45:40suffered from it as victims. Over the years of the war, hundreds of thousands,
45:46maybe millions, have left Russia. It's the same as what happened during Nazi Germany.
45:52Scientists, artists, engineers, and entrepreneurs left in droves.
45:58An unprepared departure is incredibly difficult. Many people live with nothing, with no savings.
46:05Many barely speak foreign languages or don't speak them at all. But there's no choice because anyone who
46:12has ever voiced support for democracy, free elections, or other nonsense could be arrested and imprisoned.
46:20Cultural figures who spoke out against the war in Ukraine lost their ability to teach, perform, or publish.
46:28Many have been blacklisted and legally forced to call themselves foreign agents. In essence, the title of
46:35foreign agent in Russia is a Medal of Honor. It means you haven't remained silent and you are still doing
46:42something useful. But of course, propaganda does everything it can to vilify the refugees and
46:48foreign agents as much as possible.
46:55The creators of Russian propaganda can be divided into the following categories.
47:01Television propagandists. These are the people who appear on federal channels, have massive audiences,
47:08and constantly stir up viewers with terrifying stories about Ukrainian Nazis.
47:14They shout a lot, accuse, insult, and are outright rude. They work skillfully, move as part of a unified front,
47:22and promote the narratives and explanations that the bosses need here and now. They make astronomical amounts of money for
47:31their skill set.
47:33Ideological volunteers. This group mostly resides on social media trying to inspire their followers with
47:39passionate articles, songs, poems, and so on. Some sincerely believe in the ideas of Imperial Russia
47:46and consider them to be a good thing. Others simply try to speak on topics that are approved by the
47:53state.
47:54Paid commentators. These people just show up to work. They are given assignments and carry them out.
48:02Leaving them necessary comments across the internet. The Z community. It consists of thousands of telegram
48:09channels that emerged in response to the lack of reliable information. Official propaganda tries to
48:15calm citizens saying everything is under control and that officials and the military are handling everything.
48:22But this is obviously not true. Enthusiasts in the Z community try to share what's really happening.
48:30They raise issues about the army and the rear lines hoping that officials will hear them and begin to
48:36address the problems. Small channels are much more active in sharing the truth because they aren't afraid
48:41of Comrade Major. These people are aware of what's happening yet they continue to support the war in Ukraine
48:48and believe in their official propaganda narratives. Why can't they connect the dots and see the clear reasons
48:54behind their problems? It seems that the main issue lies in the fears I mentioned above. Particularly the fear
49:04of losing their identity as their forces of good. The Z community is quite diverse. It includes military
49:12personnel and volunteers who provide tents, socks, camouflage nets and other supplies. Among them are enthusiastic
49:19ladies, the wives and mothers of soldiers, adventurers and outright crazies. There are enthusiasts delivering
49:27humanitarian aid to the front lines along with doctors, pilots and artists. Many top artists have left
49:35Russia but those who had been in the shadows before the war have stepped into the spotlight. Now they do
49:42their
49:42best to prove their loyalty to the government and its supporters. Comrade Major keeps a close eye
49:50on the Z community. If a channel starts gaining hundreds of thousands of subscribers, they try to co-opt it.
49:58They put the channel on a payroll and tell their offer what to write and what not to write. If
50:04the offer insists on
50:05their own version of events, they face consequences. One such offer committed suicide,
50:11another was killed in Africa, and the third is now in prison. The truth is, the Russian rulers have no
50:19use
50:19for these activities because they demand social problems to be addressed, corruption be eradicated,
50:26and order be restored within the army. Some of them even aspire to power, which is completely unacceptable.
50:34In reality, these enthusiasts are deeply unhappy and feel betrayed by fate. Their biggest problem is that
50:41the vast majority of the population doesn't support the war in Ukraine in the way they wish.
50:46The nations are scarce. There are not enough volunteers and soldiers can only be recruited with huge amounts
50:53of money. Opposition members are outraged by the indifference of the overwhelming majority of people to
50:59the tragedy in Ukraine. But that same indifference also extends to the Z community.
51:07Z community researcher Ivan Filipov states that no more than 7% of the population wants the war to continue
51:14and to win. Moreover, none of them can explain what exactly they are fighting for and what victory will
51:21look like. There is another nuance. War heroes won't be welcomed home. Everybody knows that when the war ends,
51:30Russia's cities will be filled with people who have gotten used to killing and forcibly taking wherever
51:36they want. What's more, they'll bring weapons with them, along with countless diseases, injuries and mental illnesses.
51:44In short, for Russia, the end of the war will not mark the end of anything.
51:54Russian propaganda is effective because it has money, the power to use violence against anyone who disagrees
52:01and because it consistently taps into the fundamental fears of the Russian people.
52:06The only way to fight propaganda is to offer alternative narratives and show that there is nothing to fear.
52:14But this must be done before a global-scale social problem grows like an uncontrollable infection.
52:21While Putin dismantled independent media, the West looked away. While he was eliminating the opposition,
52:28everyone pretended nothing alarming was happening. And now there is no one left to speak to the Russian people.
52:35All channels of communication have been cut off. If someone were to ask me how to change this,
52:41I would suggest a counterintuitive approach. First, trust needs to be built, not with the rulers,
52:48but with ordinary people. If the West tries to convince Russians that we will never attack you or
52:54we don't want to tear apart your country, no one will believe it. But we can work with their fear
53:00of
53:00rejection. If Russians feel accepted and valued, that is something undeniable. And at that point,
53:08propaganda loses its power. Do you know who makes the most noise in the Z community cursing America
53:15at every turn? Russian writers. Many of them tried to get their books into the American market,
53:22but failed. And that makes them furious. I don't know a single instance when an American literary agent
53:30would accept a submission from a Russian-speaking writer with no connections.
53:34This is not Russophobia. American literary agents generally don't accept foreign writers with very few
53:40exceptions, which is why only 3% of books published in the US are translations from all over the world.
53:47But our writers feel it's because of Russophobia. Simply allowing some Andrey or Sergei to publish their
53:55fantasy novels on Amazon and making a living from it would eliminate the enemy. They would be writing books
54:02about space exploration, not anti-American rents. But no. If you live in Russia, you can't be successful
54:09in America. You have the wrong passport, bank account, and tax filings. One single positive article on BBC
54:16on CNN about Russian inventors would shatter the most fundamental myth of Putin's propaganda. No one will ever
54:23love or appreciate you outside of Russia. Either you work for me, or you don't work at all. You don't
54:31need to work hard. You need to work smart. As a bonus, I recommend the video by Professor Gerdes
54:37into warfare. How to never be fooled by disinformation. The link is in the description.
54:44Goodbye for now. Subscribe. See you soon.
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