Kremlin political strategists have developed a special information campaign aimed at convincing Russian society to view a possible peace agreement with Ukraine as a Russian “victory.” An internal presentation published by the Dossier Center outlines plans to create a new “image of victory” for Russians after the war.
The Dossier Center, which obtained access to documents prepared for Vladimir Putin’s administration, reported this.
Details
According to the materials, the Kremlin fears a negative public reaction to ending the war without clear results after heavy human losses and years of fighting. That is why officials plan to explain the end of the conflict through a set of narratives about Russia’s supposed “achievements.”
Among the main “victories” the Kremlin wants to promote are control over Donbas, parts of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, and the creation of a land corridor to Crimea. The campaign also highlights control over the Azov Sea coast and access to resources in occupied territories.
The presentation also claims that Russia supposedly “broke the West” and avoided “capitulation.” Other talking points include an alleged economic blow to EU countries and the “purging” of elites who supposedly “betrayed the country.”
The document also contains plans for dealing with audiences that may react negatively to a possible peace deal. The presentation describes so-called Z-bloggers as “couch ultra-patriots” and proposes carrying out an “emotional reorientation” campaign for them. Officials also plan to warn them about liability for “discrediting the army.”
The Kremlin also plans to involve war veterans who may oppose a compromise scenario in commemorative events. Authorities may also integrate them into political projects or send them to the so-called African Corps.
Against the backdrop of the prolonged war, the Kremlin has been trying more actively to control domestic sentiment in Russia. Western analysts have repeatedly noted that the Russian authorities see it as critical to avoid any perception of defeat or the “meaninglessness” of the war. This is especially important given the scale of losses and the economic consequences of the conflict.
Context
Russian special services have launched a large-scale campaign targeting opponents of the regime and supporters of Ukraine across European countries.
Earlier, The Ukrainian Review reported that Russia systematically recruits teenagers in occupied Ukrainian territories into propaganda activities through the “Yunkor” program under Yunarmiya.
