The story of the large Patriotic War as a justification for the invasion of Ukraine. Part 4 — Meaning to justify aggression against Ukraine

fakenews.pl 11 months ago

The past is of peculiar importance in Russian politics, and a central place in the historical memory of Russia occupies the large Patriotic War. Events from 1941 to 1945 are utilized for various purposes. Their usage by the Kremlin and its propaganda in creating narratives about Russia's past is clear. The events occurring during this period are presented as evidence of the heroism and past of this nation. At the same time, the silence of the creator of the message cover little glorious events specified as dividing east Europe into spheres of influence on the basis of the Ribbentrop-Molotov pact or shooting Polish officers and representatives of the elite in Katyń. The large Patriotic War is besides utilized as an argument justifying aggression against Ukraine.

In a country ruled by Putin, any challenge to the authoritative state version of the past of the large Patriotic War is punished and presented as a threat to Russia's national safety and the continuity of the state. Despite legal protection and even writing down the authoritative version of the past of the large Patriotic War, Russian politicians warning from hostile forces attempting to annihilate Russia by erasing its history.

In the 4th part of the series on the mythology of the large Patriotic War, we look at how it is utilized to justify the invasion of Ukraine, in which messages it is utilized and what means it is passed on. We are besides trying to answer the question of what results from the effectiveness of Russian propaganda.

The large Patriotic War in the statements of Russian officials

The large Patriotic War is simply a common subject of the statements of Russian rulers. We can hear about it in Vladimir Putin's speeches on triumph Day. It is besides referred to (or written) by politicians specified as Dmitri Medvedev, Sergey Lavrow or Dmitri Pieskov. Among those who make the communicative about the large Patriotic War there is no shortage of the leader of the Russian church — Cyril’s patriarch.

Putin's speech of February 24, 2022

The large Patriotic War and its references appear in speech president of Russia, in which he de facto declared an invasion of Ukraine. Putin puts a sign of equality between the large War of the Homeland, a triumph over Nazism and the beginning of the “densification” of Ukraine. It is simply a typical propaganda average that influences the imagination of Russian citizens and gives them circumstantial resentiments. Treatment This involves placing current events in the historical framework and comparing them with each other.

NATO as 3rd Reich

And so Russia, like the russian Union before the 3rd Reich, tried not to provoke a possible aggressor. This aggressor, or collective West under the leadership of the United States, attacked another countries, as did Nazi Germany from 1939 to 1941. Putin lists a number of Western coalition interventions: bombing of Belgrade, Iraq, Libya, Syria. At the same time NATO, breaking the alleged arrangements with Russia, expanded to the east. Putin in His Message says:

We know that between 1940 and 1941 the russian Union made quite a few efforts to prevent or at least hold the war. To this end, the USSR sought not to provoke a possible aggressor to the very end, holding back or delaying the most urgent and apparent preparations he had to take to defend himself against the coming attack. erstwhile it yet came, it was besides late.

Then emphasises the disastrous consequences of this policy:

As a result, the country was not prepared to defy the invasion of Nazi Germany, which attacked our Homeland on June 22, 1941, without declaring war. The country stopped the enemy and defeated him, paying a immense price for it. The effort to soften the aggressor before the large Patriotic War proved to be a mistake that cost our nation a advanced price. In the first months after the fighting began, we lost immense territories of strategical importance and millions of people. We're not gonna make that mistake again. We have no right to do that.

According to Vladimir Putin, modern Russia, as heir to the tradition of triumph over Nazism, has no right to make the same mistake. That is why, in defence of his interests, he begins an invasion of Ukraine, which — according to Russian narrative propaganda — remained control After the Revolution of Dignity by Banderists. The communicative of the russian Union's peaceful politics dates back to Stalin's time and was spread, among others, by the “Truth” (see Sean McMeekin, “The Stalin War. A fresh past of planet War II). In fact, the russian Union was at that time engaged in a war in the Far East and lost the war with Finland.

Ukraine's conversions are Nazis

Having put a sign of equality between the Nazis and the current Ukrainian authorities, Putin underlines the alleged threat they pose to Russia and the Russian-speaking population. Representatives of the Ukrainian establishment as well as citizens supporting Euromaidan are determined as Nazis soaked in rusophobia. Their goal, according to the Russian narrative, is clear — they want to destruct Russia and the Russians — and reach Even by Nazi methods. Putin in his speech says:

They will no uncertainty effort to decision the war to the Crimea, as they did on Donbasa to kill innocent people, as members of the criminal troops of Ukrainian nationalists and Hitler's associates did during the large Patriotic War. They besides openly complain to respective another Russian regions.

Later on in his speech emphasisesthat:

We are not planning to occupy Ukraine. We're not going to force anything. At the same time, we hear more and more statements coming from the West that there is no longer a request to respect the papers that have established the results of planet War II, signed by the totalitarian russian regime. How can we answer that?

The answer is 1 — defending the sacred memory of the victims of the russian Union during planet War II. Putin expresses it with these words:

The results of planet War II and the sacrifices our people had to bear to overcome Nazism are sacred. This does not contradict the advanced values of human rights and freedoms that emerged in the decades after the war. This does not mean that nations cannot exercise the right to self-determination which is laid down in Article 1 of the Charter of the United Nations.

Right to self-determination

Putin continues to draw attention to the rights of nations to self-determination. He besides refers to the alleged Lugansk People's Republic and Donetsk People's Republic. He stresses that after the end of planet War II no 1 asked the people of these lands about their opinion on nationality.

At the end of his speech returns to Ukrainian officers:

Comrade officers, your fathers, grandparents and great-grandfathers did not fight the Nazi occupier and did not defend our common Fatherland, for today's neo-Nazis to take power in Ukraine. You have sworn allegiance to the Ukrainian people, not to the junta, the opponent of the people who plunders Ukraine and degrades the Ukrainian people.

Referring to the memory of the accomplishments and sacrifice of their ancestors, he tries to convince the soldiers to lay down their weapons. He then stresses that the Ukrainian authorities are not legitimate. erstwhile again, he compares the democratically elected government to the Nazis and enemies of the people. There is simply a very clear mention to the sacrifice of soldiers during the large Patriotic War, among which were the ancestors of the Ukrainians. Putin opposes the service of modern Ukrainian soldiers to the allegedly fascist junta, not the people of Ukraine.

Examples of another statements by Putin

Vladimir Putin's speech is an integral part of the celebration of triumph Day in Russia. It is impossible to find references to events from 1941 to 1945. So we will look at Putin's statements of May 9, 2023. A full analysis of the main ceremonies in 2023 can be read on the website Institute of Central Europe; about the celebration in 2022 he wrote Polish Institute of global Affairs.

Speech of May 9, 2023

The large Patriotic War serves to item the unity of the multinational russian Union. president of the Russian Federation said:

During the large Patriotic War, our heroic ancestors proved that there is nothing stronger, more powerful and more reliable than our unity. There is nothing stronger in the planet than our love for the Homeland.

Further to his speech states:

The Battles of Our destiny The homelands have always become native, national and holy. We are faithful to the wills of the ancestors, profoundly and clearly realize what it means to be worthy of the heights of their war, labour and moral accomplishments. We are arrogant of the participants of a peculiar military operation, of all those who fight on the front line, who, under fire, defend the front, save the wounded. Now there's nothing more crucial than your combat work. The safety of the country depends on you today, the future of our statehood and our nation depends on you. You honor your military duty, you fight for Russia. Your families, children, friends are behind you. They're waiting for you. I'm certain you feel their boundless love.

Putin emphasizes the dedication and work of citizens of the russian Union during the war with the 3rd Reich and gives them the position of sacrum. At the same time, he compares the war with Ukraine to those events. It shows citizens that they must be morally equal to their ancestors who have overcome Nazism.

Interview given to Tucker Carlson

In an interview given to Tucker Carlson Putin claims that Zelenski's father fought in planet War II. This is not actual due to the fact that the father of the president of Ukraine birth in 1947. However, the mention itself indicates an crucial component in creating anti-Ukrainian communicative and creating a concrete image of Ukrainian democratic authorities.

Putin during an interview that We've analyzed, states that he asked Zelenski why he supported Ukrainian neo-Nazis. It is simply a permanent component of creating narratives about Ukrainian authorities, as we have written above.

At the same time, it is worth noting that the grandpa of the president of Ukraine fought in the ranks of the Red Army, which remained used by Maria Zacharova, who holds the position of manager of the Information and Press Department in the Russian Ministry of abroad Affairs.

Statements by Dmitri Medvedev

Former Russian Federation President, presently vice-president of the Russian Federation safety Council, Dmitri Medvedev is known for his controversial opinions. Experts and commentators emphasize that he speaks and writes what Vladimir Putin cannot say.

Since the beginning of the full-scale war in Ukraine he has been introduced as the author of sharp and overcolored entries on social media. In addition, it publishes articles maintained in a akin tone. Among another things, the subject is the large Patriotic War.

On May 9, 2024, Medvedev published his typical kind Article. erstwhile president emphasisesthat Russia in this millennium came to fight the fresh reincarnation of Fascism. The government that the russian soldiers erstwhile defeated arose and was embodyed by the alleged Nazi government in Kiev. In his article, he emphasizes that the enemies of Russia want to turn the planet upside down and burn it in the heat of the planet war. According to politics, the top paradox of the present times is that it became a practice to return to criminal ideology.

In the publication besides He's accusing Anglo-Saxons to make conditions in which fascism may have been born. He then states that they supported and "feeded" this criminal system, which they wanted to accomplish with their hands. Medvedev besides accuses the “collective West” that he does likewise to the alleged Nazi government in Kiev.

Medvedev's message fits into the policy of lying to past and accusing Western states of supporting Nazism and blaming them for the outbreak of planet War II.

Interview with Sergei Lavrow published on the Russian abroad Ministry website

On June 1, 2024, the Russian MFA page appeared interview with abroad Minister Sergei Lavrov.

Already in the beginning, the minister emphasizes the military traditions of Russia and the large victories of its weapons. It is worth noting at this point that Russia did not win the Crimean War, as this Lavrow would like. Notes besides that we are witnessing attempts to reinterpret past and align winners with the Nazis.

Jurov considersThat there is simply a view in the West that there is no request or desire to remind of the horrors of Nazism. Allegedly, these events are to be distant and irrelevant to the people of the West. He states that this is an effort to reconstruct Nazism presented as the goodness of the heart. As an example of this approach, he gives talks with Germany on compensation for the victims of the Siege of Leningrad. The German state made one-off payments to survivors of the Siege of Leningrad, who were Jews. The Russian side found this unfair and pointed out that all the people of Leningrad suffered likewise at the time. Lavrow emphasizes that Germany during many talks, including the 1 he mentions, has long suggested that Nazism and the victims of planet War II are a substance of the past.

Lavrow and Ukraine and the West

Later Recalls The words of Reichkommissar Erich Koch, who stated in his memoirs that Ukraine is only an object of exploitation, and the population must be utilized for war purposes. This is an apparent mention to the current situation in Ukraine related to human deficiencies in the army. The West and Ukrainian authorities usage this quote to compare themselves with Nazis who forcely drag people into the army and send them to the front and rob the country of wealth and natural resources.

Lavrow's message aims to item the russian Union's triumph in planet War II, which is why the story of the winning Russian army is preserved. At the same time, it serves to discredit Western states. The jury presents them as insensitive to harm, without paying attention to the memory of history. He besides accuses them of being arrogant due to the fact that they do not want to pay compensation to victims of planet War II of a different origin than the judaic ones.

Statements by Marija Zacharova on tv shows

Now we will discuss any more aggressive examples of speeches that besides come from the Russian Ministry of abroad Affairs. Their author is known for the controversial and harsh words of Marija Zacharov, who works as manager of the Information and Press Department of the Russian Ministry mentioned. For the purposes of the article, we will usage 2 statements by Zacharova. The first took place in a popular Russian program run by Vladimir Solovev. It criticises American aid provided under Lend-Lease. In his second statement, he questions the legitimacy of the alliance of the russian Union with the Western Allies.

Conversation with Vladimir Solovyov

W conversation With Solovyov, Zacharów criticizes first the Marshall Plan, which is the long-term assistance of the United States to war-stricken European states, including Germany. It attributes to its creators the evil intentions of destroying the full European strategy that was created after the war. It besides states that it was aimed at the russian Union and the east bloc states. It should be stressed that Joseph Stalin refused to accept assistance under the Marshall Plan and imposed his decision on the satellite states. Marija Zacharova then links Marshall's Plan with Germany's failed denazification. In her opinion, this was a deliberate action, and the Nazi ideology survived the trial in Nuremberg and continues to this day. In her opinion, this is where modern problems arise. This is an apparent mention to the alleged Nazism prevailing in Ukraine.

He then convinces, in rather emotional words, that it is worth comparing Marshall's Plan to American aid to Ukraine. At this point, Solovyov says it would be interesting to compare the amount of aid granted to the russian Union under Lend-Lease with the aid given to Germany after the end of planet War II. Solovov thus suggests that post-war Germany received more support than the USSR during the armed struggles. In answering the question of the programme, it should be noted that aid for West Germany As part of the Marshall Plan, it was $1.5 billion. The russian Union under Lend-Lease received $11 billion support. Zacharova then talks about American aid to Ukraine and stresses that US authorities are officially bragging about killing Russians. In her opinion, this is to be included in the authoritative policy of the American shadow office.

Second interview on TVC

Another of the statements analysed in this article took place in a publicist program conducted by Russian propagandaist Dmitri Kulikov. Zacharov emphasizes at the beginning of his statementsthat we are witnessing the disintegration of global relations. He then notes the incompetence of Western politicians and their amoral lifestyle.

One associate points out that the Russians had allies in the West in the past. He says during the Napoleonic Wars it was Britain. During planet War II, the russian Union was part of the anti-Hitler coalition, which included France, Britain and the USA.

At this point, Zacharova disputes this claim. He exclaims that Stalin had to ask for aid from the Western Allies before they decided to support the russian Union. The desire for military cooperation in defeating Nazi Germany was only to appear among Allied leaders from 1943 to 1944. This was the minute erstwhile the Red Army won decisive victories on the east Front, for which she had to pay a immense donation of blood. Zacharova besides calls on listeners and his interlocutors not to believe the western version of history, as the West then opportunistly formed an alliance, predicting that the russian Union would win the war.

Zacharowa and Lying History

These are apparent lies, as aid from the US under Lend-Lease reached the USSR even before the Americans entered the war. Just after the launch of Operation Barbarossa, the United Kingdom and the russian Union signed Treaty To fight Nazi Germany together. The next step deepening USSR's participation in the anti-Hitler coalition and cooperation with Western allies was signing The United Nations Declaration, which constituted a joint conflict of the Allied (including the russian Union) against Nazi Germans. The Allies besides fought against Axis countries in Africa.

In the remainder of his statement, Zacharov emphasizes that Russia has had only 2 allies — an army and a fleet for centuries. That's why he can't number on outside help, and accepting it in the past was an elite mistake. The emphasis is on the alleged fact that in the past allies betrayed Russia repeatedly. All this pseudohistorical argument leads Zacharova to conclude that the current fight is not about the future of Ukraine, but about the future of humanity. The primary origin in this clash is the fight of ideology — the perverse dictatorship of the West with Russian traditionalism and household values.

Summary of Zacharowa's message

The first of these statements of the Russian abroad Ministry depreciated the military aid that the Americans gave to the russian Union during planet War II. With her help, Russian propaganda seeks to make a image of the russian Union, which itself won the war with the 3rd Reich. At the same time, he attributes this agreement, as well as Marshall's Plan, hidden intentions which were to destabilise the planet order just after the end of planet War II and allegedly to destruct the russian Union.

The first message resonates and shares with the second one, in which Zacharova emphasizes that Russia never had allies. The West in its imagination of the past of planet War II is portrayed as an opportunistic and amoral ally who is able to change the front at any time only to win. In this example, Nazism is no longer a major problem, but an alleged liberal and perverse Western dictatorship that wants to destruct Russia and traditional, conservative values.

Patriarch Cyril and Orthodox Priests

The head of the Russian church passed a long ideological path. This is perfectly illustrated by his ordination of the Main Chair of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in 2020. The decoration of the church praises the military past of Russia and next to Vladimir the large we will besides find there a red star and Stalin.

In 1992. Cyril gave sermon for officers in the Kremlin walls. He emphasized that the soldiers were martyred during the large Patriotic War. He besides said that Russia had not been created in the last 70 years, and its past has been going on for 1,000 years, and that it has nothing to do with the State of Stalin.

Over the years Cyril created his own triumph theology, which was to indicate a deeper sense of millions of victims that the russian Union had suffered during the war. The head of the Russian Orthodox Church puts a sign of equality between the crucifixion of Christ and the death of millions of soldiers. Their blood was to wash distant the sin of the national apostasy which occurred after the communists took power. The large War of the Motherland is so interpreted by the patriarch as a national crucifixion.

Other clergymen besides began to follow Cyril’s footsteps. And so, Igor Pashmenov a fewer days after the invasion of Ukraine began said His faithful belief that on the lands of Saint Ruth is fighting against collective Hitler and the enemies of Orthodoxy.

These examples hit messianic and Biblical tones. In this vision, soldiers are fighting a fresh “holy war” and in order to match the actions of their ancestors, they must get a fresh Berlin, which is Kiev.

Using planet War II story by media to justify invasion

Media — both the press and tv — play an highly crucial function in spreading Putinian propaganda. 85% of Russians draws information from state information networks. This causes the majority of the population to receive a message in line with the Kremlin line, incapable to number on alternate sources, as these are increasingly restricted each year. So there is nothing unusual about the fact that specified a key subject as the war in Ukraine became highly popular in the media. On the another hand, the story of the large Patriotic War as the central point of the Kremel historical policy was an excellent tool for propaganda use.

Among the most crucial groups of Russian media, 1 should separate those belonging to the state, under the control of oligarchs and controlled by the service. Additional categories are media that are linked to the Kremlin or reenforce its transmission abroad. We focus on this division below and show how individual groups usage planet War II to justify invasions internally and externally.

Russian news portals were excellent Mapped via Microsoft Threat Analysys Center. The study shows very well how the various media are linked. It should besides be noted that after Russian aggression against Ukraine, access to many of the portals listed here has been blocked in the European Union and the US. However, this does not mean that they no longer have an impact on the building of social sentiments.

State television

State tv is the most crucial part of the tv marketplace in Russia. The vast majority of citizens of this country watch programs broadcast there. Consequently, millions of people are affected by the views and thesis presented there. They become the dominant discourse in Russia's information space, which is eagerly utilized by the propaganda apparatus. Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, anti-Ukrainian and anti-Western content has become more aggressive.

Journalists who service Moscow as propaganda tubes frequently present much stronger statements under the cover of independency than those given by the Crematorian officials. Dmitri Kisielow in the program on the first channel, telling about the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the conflict of Stalingrad, He was giving Very controversial thesis. He spoke, among another things, of the fact that all Europe was on Hitler's side and that the russian Union had to defeat it. This is simply a popular myth, built inactive in the times of the USSR, which was to show how large a sacrifice the Red Army and society of the russian Union had to bear to defeat the enemy. In fact, conquered lands create for the 3rd Reich frequently more problems than benefits, redirecting much economical effort to keep them.

Of course, the full communicative about the fight against the "collective West" is connected with the war in Ukraine. Kisielow indicates that the West continues to support the Nazis by sending them dense weapons. This is simply a clear allusion to Ukraine. It besides warns that Russia can shortly halt limiting itself and usage its full strength. The program besides presented the communicative of a Russian soldier fighting in Ukraine. It was placed between talks about planet War II, which builds an apparent parallel between the current war and the defence of Stalingrad. Finally, Kisielow accuses European states of forcing the 3rd Reich to start a war. During this passage of the program we see Józef Piłsudski and the Polish flag. This is simply a continuation of the communicative that blames the outbreak of planet War II on Poland, which we discussed in part two.

Vladimir Solovyov

During 1 of the news shows on Rossija 1 television, participants besides echo dubious substantive claims. Among them is Vladimir Solovyov, known for his controversial statements and the constant threat of atomic weapons. Reference he until planet War II, claiming that the most public about the reinforcement of Ukraine and the opposition of Russia are those who owe her independence. This is meant to emphasize the alleged ingratitude of the countries of Central and east Europe, which are incapable to appreciate their liberation by the Red Army.

Karen Szachnazarov

This subject is further led by well-known Russian manager Karen Szachnazarov. During the discussion, he claimed that both planet War II and Cold War were actually lost by the West. The misunderstanding of this fact is intended to explain why European states inactive believe they can defeat Russia in Ukraine. During the same program Russian political scientist Dmitri Yevstafev unambiguously indicatedthat it is essential to "denify" not only Ukraine, but besides Europe as a whole. He added that their grandparents in 1943 besides thought it was impossible, but they succeeded. This is an apparent example of the presentation of the Messianic imagination of Russia, which we besides discussed in part two.

Margarita Simonjan

Even further this imagination push Margarita Simonjan, editor-in-chief of the Kremlian English-language RT television. It claimed on Rossija 1 that Russia is presently fighting the full NATO. As a result, it opposes the 50 most powerful countries in the world, with which it will yet win. This is to be the top effort in the past of this country, which is to be overshadowed even by the large Patriotic War. The full message is besides densely saturated with Biblical appeals, in which Russia is portrayed as fighting against absolute evil, opposing Satan himself.

The symbolism of the large Patriotic War was besides connected with the war in Ukraine. An example may be presentation on tv preparations for the 2022 triumph Day parade. During the flight, aircraft flying over Red Place were to be placed in the letter Z. It is clearly associated as a symbol of Russian aggression against Ukraine. The union of these 2 events — celebrations of triumph over Nazism and a fresh war — is to build a parallel between these 2 issues in the eyes of the Russians.

Press in the hands of the Kremlin and the oligarchs

In Russia a large part of the press au To you. The owners of many press titles are besides the oligarchs, whose common interests are linked to the Verchushka in the Kremlin. The media, therefore, reproduces the narratives full in line with Moscow's propaganda message. This, of course, besides applies to the war in Ukraine and its justification by referring to planet War II.

RIA Nowosti

An example may be Article published on the RIA Novosti website, belonging to To the state media group Rossia situny. His seemingly innocent character perfectly shows how even in very tiny events the propaganda of planet War II is used. The text tells of 2 veterans of the large Patriotic War, who want Christmas to soldiers from the Central Military territory in December 2023. This concerns Russian Army assault units in Ukraine. That's how the image of these soldiers gets warm. At the same time, it appears as if a baton has been passed on between veterans of war with Nazism and fresh military generations, who, in accordance with Russian propaganda, are to proceed this fight.

TV Zvezda

portal tvzvezda.ru au to the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation. Of course, it is utilized to advance narratives justifying the invasion of Ukraine. Example article in the subject discussed may be the 1 about the celebration of the triumph Day in Melitopol. The city is left. busy at the turn of February and March 2022 by Russian forces and remains under their business until today. The text of May 2022 discusses the passage of the “Immortal Regiment” march through the city. According to the author, Melitopol's residents were allegedly incapable to celebrate triumph Day for many years, as this was prevented by Ukrainian nationalists. The article outlines the situation in which they were yet freed from “Naziness” and yet enjoy happiness and freedom. As has been mentioned many times before, this text besides promotes the communicative of the request to proceed fighting Nazism as a model for erstwhile generations.

Cargrad

Owned by oligarch Konstantin Malofieev Cargrad portal he besides actively participates in the duplication of the Kremel historical policy. In the next example Article We're dealing with a seemingly innocent anecdote. The Russian soldier was to ask Ukrainian children about Stepan Bandera. These answered that he was “our father.” The military informed the children that Bandera was actually a murderer and a criminal. The text sets out this as an example of indoctrination in Ukrainian schools to rise children in a spirit of “nasism and russophobia”. At the end of the article there was a memory that not only Nazi groups operate in Ukraine, but besides Satanist groups. All of this is expected to give the impression to the reader that the Russian army brings enlightenment to Ukrainian lands and releases children from the influence of extremist Ukrainian propaganda, which makes them stupid.

Service-controlled information portals

A separate group of Russian websites are these controlled by the service. They service as a psychological-information war in both Russia, Ukraine and Western countries. Among the agencies that run secret online media are: Chief Intelligence Board (GRU), abroad Intelligence Service (SWR) and national safety Service (FSB).

FONDSK

An example of a SWR-controlled portal is Fondsk. The site, as well as another intelligence agencies, serves as a strengthening and disseminating vector for Russian propaganda. We'll find, among another things, Article discussing Odessa's liberation from the German business in 1944. It is entitled "Is Odessa's Second Liberation Coming?". The author of the text confirms that the inhabitants of this town are allegedly suffering again under the Nazi “jarzma”. The current Ukrainian affiliation of the city is likened to the brutal Nazi occupation. Among another things, it refers to the demolition of Russian and russian monuments in the city as an act of barbarity. It besides resembles the 2014 Fire of the Trade Union home where 42 people died. At the end of the article, it states that the Russian army will bring liberation to the city and punish “Nazis” like the Red Army in 1944.

Antifashist

Antifashist is simply a portal having links to the FSB. Its aim is to strengthen Russian messages and to undermine religion in state institutions in Ukraine. In 1 of your own Articles It recalls a situation in which the Kiev authorities would deprive the social aid of planet War II veterans. This is not true, due to the fact that in fact Ukraine withdrew from the agreement with Russia on this matter, and participants in the war with Germany are inactive enjoying the state's care. The text is part of a wider narrative, according to which supposedly Ukrainian rulers hatred the symbol of the large Patriotic War, so they do everything to destruct it, demolish monuments, ban celebrations and haunt veterans. This is to be evidence of links to Nazism and justification of Russia's actions.

News Front

News Front is an global website that presents itself as an independent portal from the People's Republic of Donbas. In fact, financed It's through FSB. Sole Article, which we will usage as an example, besides fits into the communicative discussed above. It tells of how a Ukrainian typical to the UN allegedly offends the memory of russian soldiers fighting in planet War II. This is another example of dislike of the heroes of the large Patriotic War. Among another things, the bulging message was that the Red Army withdrawing in 1941 was liable for the deaths of thousands of civilians. In fact, the message is true. In 1941, on Stalin's command, the russian soldiers in retreat They blew it. Dnieprzanska Water Power Plant, killing up to 120,000 Ukrainian civilians. It is 1 of the bloodiest one-off disasters always caused by man. And this is just 1 example of the ruthless activities of the Red Army in Ukraine.

Media pretending to be Ukrainian portals

Some Russian media have been prepared in specified a way as to make an impression of portals led by Ukrainians. Many portals are addressed straight to them, but any are intended to interest the western recipient. any besides present a look at Ukraine from the Russian side.

Such portals include Ukraine.ru website, which duplicate Cremovian propaganda concerning Ukraine. Among many articles on the site we will find, for example, the discussing the Lviv pogrom from early July 1941, erstwhile Wehrmacht entered the city. Done was primarily by Ukrainian and to a lesser degree Polish population with inspiration from German troops. The article explicitly states that the current government in Kiev is the direct successor to those liable for the murders.

ASD.news is another portal that strengthens The propaganda of the Kremlin and is directed, among another things, to Ukrainians. The Pro-Russian Article states that Ukrainians have been trying to destruct the memory of planet War II since 2014. They are expected to advance Nazi symbols, and Russians consider second-class citizens. Western countries helping Ukraine are compared to Hitler's allies. It besides states that Britain is liable for the emergence of national socialism in Germany. At the same time, the article suggests that the actions of the West will lead to the outbreak of planet War III, just as Western states are liable for planet War I and planet War II.

The Donbass Insider site is mainly addressed to the western receiver, pretending to be Ukrainian mediums from the site of the People's Republics. It is published primarily in French and English. Page has been founded by a French Communist, Christelle Néant, who left for Donbass. From the beginning, it strengthens the Kremlin propaganda message. In 1 of the Articles The argument is that the conflict for Donbas is simply a "war of memory". According to the author of the article, Ukrainian troops deliberately destruct planet War II monuments with their artillery since 2014 in that area. The intent of the ‘special military operation’ is to prevent the demolition of the culture and memory of the war against Nazism.

Portals in Central and confederate Europe

In eastern, central and confederate Europe, there are many net services operating as amplifiers of the Kremel message. They are intended to make support for Russia's actions and undermine national cohesion. There are many specified portals in this area of Europe due to the fact that Moscow considers this region to be its area of influence.

One of them is the Polish Independent Political Journal, which took participation in Russian influence operations, among others. The portal has been operating for many years and has been effective spread disinformation and prokremlian narratives. Among another things, he appeared on the site text entitled ‘Tolerance, gentlemen! Neonazis are officially an integral part of our society." It presents Ukrainian refugees as neo-Nazis and banderists who historically hatred Poles. According to the author, they are to destruct Polish monuments by painting swastikas on them. On the another hand, the Polish state is presented as 1 that tolerates Ukrainian hatred and lies to the past of planet War II.

An interesting example of a portal replicating Russian propaganda is The Duran operating from Cyprus. Related is with the Russian government average RT. In March it was published there Article with a eloquent title: “War in Donbasa: Why we all gotta argue fascism”. The text points to Ukraine and the West as the culprits of the full conflict, and Putina portrays as a individual who wanted to avoid war at all costs. According to the author, Russia had no choice but to launch a military operation precisely to avoid the terrible consequences of planet War II. Many times the text states that 27 million Russians had to die to defeat the Nazis. The experiences of the Lugansk people of planet War II are besides presented, which could have happened again if it had not been for Russia's intervention and the courageous attitude of the inhabitants of the city who, contrary to everything, stood up to armed invaders from Ukraine.

Press to the West

Several large portals, financed straight by the Russian government, have built a reasonably strong position among western audiences over the years. These include specified portals as Sputnik, RT or TASS. They are effectively utilized by Russian propaganda centres, even if they have been blocked in the European Union or the US. They can inactive be accessed through VPN, and many European portals copy their texts, disseminating the narrations desired by the Kremlin further.

Sputnik portal

The Sputnik portal is highly active in this matter, which is published in dozens of languages, so reach possibly millions of people in the world. The editorial squad tries to make maximum usage of this and actively replicates the Cremovian propaganda. This, of course, besides applies to Russian historical policy towards planet War II. An example Article of May 2022. It continues the communicative mentioned earlier about the persecution of veterans of the large Patriotic War and the demolition of memorial sites. The article suggests that the “normal” Ukrainians want to celebrate the heroes of planet War II, but aggressive nationalist militants and Nazi government policy in Kiev prevent it. The text gives the reader the impression that the full Ukraine is terrorized by extremist groups that worship Adolf Hitler and want to destruct the memory of planet War II.

Ukrainian Army compared to Wehrmacht

Another example on Sputnik's website is the direct comparison of actions of the Ukrainian army to Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS. Sole Article It compares the current situation in Ukraine with what happened in 1943 on this front stretch. At the time, German marshal von Manstein had to usage comparatively tiny forces to defend the maneuvering force and to surrender part of the territory to fight the Red Army effectively. According to the author, the Ukrainian army tries to do the same, but is besides weak and not ready to quit territory. The summary states that the German troops were defeated by the Red Army as well as the Russian troops would prevail. This is, of course, an effort to build an association between the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Wehrmacht.

Multipolar planet According to Sputnik

Sputnik would love to duplicate besides the Russian concept of multipolar planet based on Kremlin's historical policy and appeals to the large Patriotic War. The reason for these considerations was the celebration of triumph Day in 2024. The article emphasizes that the USSR fought not only Nazi Germany, but besides their allies and the full economical power of conquered Europe. It's expected to be a show that just like then, Russia will be able to win against the West. As we mentioned earlier, it is false thinking, and the economically conquered Europe for the Reich was primarily a burden, making it hard for the German manufacture to concentrate its efforts against the USSR. The article emphasizes that the West is lying to history, making it forced to repeat it. Putin is to want only peace and allegedly avoids the confrontation that Western states are seeking, allowing a revival of Nazism. At the same time, Russia is ready to defend itself in the event of a breach of its interests.

TASS Agency

Of course, the Kremlin propaganda is besides duplicated by the Russian Federation’s main information agency, TASS. For example, on its portal Article About Justin Trudeau supporting Nazism. As evidence of this, his cry “Glory to Ukraine” is given at a conference in Switzerland. Thus, according to the author of the text, he is to express his support for Stepan Bandera and his criminal activities and to glorify his cooperation with Nazi Germany. This is to be an example that Western leaders are willing to support extremist groups only to fight Russia.

The last but at the same time an excellent example of promoting anti-Catinia policy combined with justifying the invasion of Ukraine is another Article TASS. He refers to statements by Mikhail Miagkov, the technological manager of the Russian Military-Historical Society. Miagkow claims that the Katyn crime was a German operation of the false flag, as was the Ukrainian "provokation in Buczy". It clearly removes work for Katyń's execution from the USSR, pointing out the Germans as culprits. At the same time, it replicates false claims about Russian Crimes in Bucza. Combining these 2 events and blaming Russian murders on individual else perfectly fits the Russian policy of lying history.

Propaganda of the large Patriotic War on Social Media

Social media are of course an crucial part of promoting Russian propaganda narratives. The Kremlin's influence apparatus is eager to usage Russian bloggers, pro-Russian Western influencers and anonymous accounts (both trolls and bots). Among the subjects addressed by them we will besides find the question of planet War II and historical policy. The message is, of course, built with creamy propaganda and consistent with the power line in Moscow. Social media activity allows you to penetrate bubbles and scope audiences, especially in the West, which are hard to scope through authoritative channels.

Pro-Russian influencers

An crucial group of people strengthening the Cremol propaganda message on social media are originating Western influencers. They can scope their customers more easy and effectively spread Russian propaganda. Below are any examples of specified people and their entries.

Scott Ritter

Ritter He's an American writer, a erstwhile US Marine Corps intelligence officer. He besides participated in the UN peculiar Committee on Weapons of Mass demolition in Iraq. He's besides a convicted criminal for kid sexual abuse. Since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine, he has actively supported the Kremlin propaganda apparatus with his statements to Russian media and social media entries. During his activities, he besides did not overlook the subject of planet War II.

Among him entries On the X portal, we will find the 1 about the victims the Americans suffered fighting Nazism. According to Ritter, Ukrainians lost as many soldiers as the U.S. lost during the first year of invasion throughout planet War II. His words mainly mention to the issue of aid Ukraine. According to him, the Americans support the same criminal ideology they fought 80 years ago. This is an apparent mention to the Russian communicative about Ukrainian Nazis.

Another Example alert is that Russia remembers its experiences from planet War II and Europe does not. She is so doomed to repeat past and hazard a full-scale war. The exact same narratives were created by Vladimir Putin during his speeches, even during speeches On triumph Day in 2023.

Jackson Hinkle

Hinkle is an American influencer, known for his extremist views and spreading disinformation. 1 of the elements of his social media activities is supporting Russia and replicating the Kremlin's propaganda. Of course, he besides does not ignore the subject of the large Patriotic War.

In 1 of your online statements Hinkle states that Putin, like Stalin, fights against absolute evil. Therefore, Ukraine's “liberation” operation cannot be compared to US interventions in Iraq or Afghanistan, which were criminal. This is of course another example, this time presented by the Western influencer, the Messianic imagination of Russia and its infallibility in its activities.

In a akin speech Putin was presented on the occasion comment concerning the scandal in the Canadian Parliament. During Volodymyr Zelenski's visit to Canada, MPs They applauded Jarosław Hunka, associate of the Ukrainian Waffen-SS troops. This incident, despite an apology from the Canadians, was widely utilized by Russian propaganda. Hinkle besides commented on it, presenting Vladimir Putin as a savior from Nazism, which everyone must support.

Alina Lipp

Lipp It is simply a German influencer who moved to the Crimea occupied by the Russians, where she began to operate for the benefit of the Kremlin propaganda. Her social media is conducted in German and Russian. On his Telegram presented Among another things, false news about Canadians of Ukrainian origin who were directed to conduct cultural cleansing in western Ukraine. He claims that Canada after planet War II gave shelter to Ukrainian Nazis and now uses them to commit crimes.

In another entry Lipp states that the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenski, bought a villa formerly owned by Joseph Goebbels, Minister of Propaganda and Enlightenment of the German Reich. This is false information, and its aim is to establish a connection between Nazism and Ukrainian authorities. Both information provided by Alina Lipp is another brick in the construction of the image of Ukraine as a stand-alone Nazi ideology. It doesn't substance that they have nothing to do with the truth.

Bartlett, Lancaster, Medhurst

There are many pro-Russian influencers who direct their activities to the western audience. Among them we will find a Canadian female Eva Bartlett, best known for spreading conspiracy theories about the Syrian war. In 1 of your own entries It warms the image of Russian soldiers, comparing them to planet War II veterans.

Patric Lancaster This is an American war correspondent who moved to Donbas. He is highly active in recording front line materials, presenting a Russian, frequently highly propaganda point of view. In 1 of your own entries The telegram recalls the past of the monument to the large Patriotic War. Despite the “hard attack” of Ukrainians on the Russian city of Shebiekino monument survived, and its eternal flame is inactive on fire. Lancaster emphasizes that it is simply a symbol of the integrity of those who gave their lives for fighting Nazism, which according to the Kremel propaganda continues.

Activities Richard Medhurst, a British “independent journalist” of Syrian origin, fits into Russian historical policy. Expresses he outraged at the ban on Russian flags at the celebration of the end of planet War II in Berlin. He creates a communicative that this is ingratitude for the sacrifices the russian Union has made in the fight against Nazism, and an component of the West's rusophobia. Medhurst's entry clearly shows how Russian propaganda is trying to make a imagination of Russia as a country to which, regardless of current actions, respect for historical achievements is due all the time.

Russian military bloggers

In Russian social media, a full separate group are bloggers who they're taking care of reporting the war in Ukraine (the alleged Z-bloggers). They enjoy large scope and, even though their activity is primarily aimed at the interior usage of propaganda, there are besides thousands of followers in the West. They besides frequently usage a pardonless language and are willing to criticize, for example, the Russian army for incompetence, but at the same time stay full faithful to Russian imperialism.

Alexander Kots

Cats, writer of Komsomol fact and Russian propagandaist, since the beginning of the war in Donbasa has been active in favour of the Kremlin's influence apparatus. After Awdijiwa was captured by Russian troops in February 2024 called it is an extraordinary ability of Russians to rebuild. Almost completely destroyed by dense fighting, the city was to be rapidly restored to its glory, like thousands of russian towns after planet War II. Kots, in addition to referring to the alleged historical ability of Russians to rapidly repair and proceed pushing forward despite adversity, indirectly suggested that Awdijiwka belongs to Russia. In fact, after a fewer months of Kots's statement, the city is inactive completely destroyed and struggling With a cholera epidemic.

Semion Piegow

Piegów, known as War Gonzo, it is simply a Russian propagandaist and war correspondent. He repeatedly gave false information, specified as about NATO biolaboratory Mariupolu. In his activities he repeatedly referred to the story of the large Patriotic War. May this year described a fresh exhibition at the planet War II Museum in Smolensk. It commemorated 2 Russian soldiers who died during the war in Ukraine. This is another component of the communicative of the Russian army continuing its mission to fight Nazism as its predecessors did.

In another entry The frieze brings up the same imagination again. The blogger talks about how Russian soldiers fought close the monument of the large Patriotic War in Zaporozh. On May 9, 2024, they celebrated triumph Day under it, holding portraits of their fellow troops who died during the invasion of Ukraine. Piegow recalls a story, according to which in the summertime of 2023 close the monument the Ukrainian offensive was stopped, and the enemy tank, who wanted to destruct the monument, exploded on a mine. As the propagandist emphasizes, the trenches of the Russian army run in the same place as the Red Army fought against Germany. Piegow builds here an apparent symbolism and parallel between past and modernity.

Semieniov, Jaremczuk, Naumowa

Other propagandists, specified as Aleksander Siemieniow, Aleksander Jaremczuk or Mariana Naumov, besides do not ignore the subject of the large Patriotic War. Semenev tells about a group of Russian pilots who fly 7 aircraft for triumph Day all year. The hulls of the machines feature images of planet War II heroes. In the last year, however, they besides added photographs of fallen Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine, who are to be as heroic as their grandfathers fighting against the Nazis.

Alexander Jaremczuk on his Telegram discussed, like the Ukrainian authorities “hold” Nazis. This is done, among another things, by allegedly allowing marches or parades of Waffen-SS veterans. This is to prove that the power in Kiev is actually Nazi.

Mariana Naumowa focuses on showing suffering for civilians and false empathy for residents of east Ukraine. In his propaganda activities, he uses local residents to show "Ukrainian crimes". As an example entry A female of agreement about an aged female who experienced German business at the age of seven. The movie was assembled in specified a way as to clearly make links between the war in Ukraine and planet War II. The actions of the Ukrainian army are indirectly compared to the Nazi business in specified a way that the recipient clearly combines both events.

Anonymous posts on social media and memes

The underestimated origin of creating anti-Ukrainian narratives and related to the large Patriotic War are entries in social media and memes. In this part we will analyse respective materials of this kind. They have various objectives — discrediting Ukrainian and Western authorities, supporting and warming the image of Russian soldiers, and presenting aggression in a concrete light.

Discrediting Ukrainian and Western authorities

The first example to be discussed is mem It depicts Stalin smoking a pipe. This graphics has been circulating on the net and social media since at least 2021. In this context it appeared on 9 May 2024.

The inscription, in loose translation, says that on May 8, the losers mourn, and on May 9, the winners celebrate. It is worth noting that the difference in the date of the celebration of the end of planet War II in Europe is due to the location of Berlin and Moscow in 2 time zones. The act of surrender of the 3rd Reich was signed on 8 May before midnight, in Moscow then was the next day. However, the transmission of the graphics is clear. It depicts the russian Union as the sole winner of the war, and on 9 May as the only day to be celebrated. It is actual that the act of surrender was signed on 8 May, but in this context the western states are besides presented as losers.

Another example that discredits the West is the words attributed to Marshal Gieorgiy Zukov, who won the conflict of Berlin. He was to say: ‘We have liberated Europe from Fascism, but they will never forgive us.“. This quote appears in entries on community platforms. The intent of putting these words is to discredit the West, which also, as must be stressed, had a part in defeating the Axis. In addition, this fits into the communicative of the ungratefulness of the West, which is expected to support supposedly Nazi Ukraine and itself to be steeped in the ideas of national socialism.

Alleged attempts to revise history

Next entry The X portal shows archival photographs of the Red Army entering cities and villages. The photographs show russian soldiers and welcome residents.

The text of the entry itself can be translated as follows:

Since any uninformed people call russian soldiers liberating occupiers, this is the subject of how the people of Europe truly welcomed their heroes — the Red Army. Remember! You will never rewrite past and dishonor the glorious memory of our ancestors!

The content can be referred to the process of decommunisation of Ukraine and all laws related to it. It besides refers to a popular possible in Poland and the Baltic States, which sees a fresh occupier in the Red Army.

Russian soldiers as continuations of the holy fight against Fascism

Soldiers besides appear in the entries. Presented They are as continuing to fight Nazism, and the war in which they participate is called ‘Saint“. In the first case, we are dealing with a movie in which soldiers participating in the war remember their ancestors who participated in the large Patriotic War. They claim that the conflict to remember the actions of the predecessors continues. In subsequent shots, soldiers compare their actions to the heroic actions of the Red Army from planet War II. And so the tanker says that his grandpa destroyed the Tigers, being part of the T-34 tank crew, and present he will destruct Leopardy, sitting in a Russian machine. Soldiers must finish their work ‘Heroic“ ancestors and destruct the fresh incarnation of Nazism, defeat their descendants.

Next entry, which we will briefly discuss, we see a photograph of a well-equipped Russian soldier, and under it inscription ‘Holy War“. The author besides quoted the words of the patriarch Cyril:

From a spiritual and moral point of view, a peculiar military operation is simply a sacred war.

The image of a dangerously armed soldier is to present the power and modernity of the Russian army. The communicative itself refers to the large Patriotic War, which in order to mobilize society was called sacred. Next ‘Christmas“ This time the war is waged against the alleged descendants of the Nazis — Ukrainians and Europeans. At the same time, the entry maintains the communicative about the theology of triumph created by the patriarch Cyril.

Summary

This study as a four-part full shows that the large Patriotic War is an highly crucial part of the identity of Russians. Since Germany's invasion of the USSR on 22 June 1941, russian propaganda began to make a story that would last for decades to come. It was transformed during the reign of Khrushchev or Brezhnev, its function changed again to any degree after the collapse of the russian Union. The legend of planet War II decided to usage Vladimir Putin after taking power to justify his powerful policy. It has become peculiarly central to historical policy since the beginning of the crisis in Ukraine. It was then that Russia needed to justify its actions towards criticism of the West.

However, the invasion of Ukraine brought a flood of propaganda about the large Patriotic War. The full apparatus of influence of the Russian Federation was attached to spreading content compatible with the Kremlin line. Political decision-makers in the Kremlin, headed by Vladimir Putin, act according to 1 imagination of historical policy. State media, controlled by oligarchs and services, as well as abroad portals linked to the Kremlin are active. besides in social media, the communicative of Russia's historical mission to fight Nazism is widely distributed utilizing Western influencers, Russian bloggers, or troll nets and bots.

The large Patriotic War is an issue treated almost as sacred, and its effect is powerfully Messianic. all criticism of Russian historical policy is linked to fierce attacks by the Cremol influence apparatus. The sacralization of planet War II is an highly crucial part of the identity of Russians and will be utilized propagandaally by them all the time, as it is an inseparable part of the DNA of the Russian people.

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Photos and graphics

File:Vladimir Putin (2022-02-24).jpg by Kremlin.ru, CC BY 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

File:2023 Moscow triumph Day Parade 18.jpg by Mil.ru, CC BY 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

File:Interview with Vladimir Putin to Tucker Carlson (2024-02-06) 05.jpg by Kremlin.ru, CC BY 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Photo by Sergei Lavrov by Press Service of the Ministry of abroad Affairs of the Russian Federation

File:Vladimir Putin at awards ceremonies (2022-12-20) 28.jpg by Kremlin.ru, CC BY 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

File:Scott Ritter Speaks at SUNY fresh Paltz.jpg by RadicalHarmony at English Wikipedia, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

File:Meeting with war correspondents (2023-06-13) 08.jpg by kremlin.ru, CC BY 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

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