The Russian media is an important element in Russia’s cognitive war. Throughout the war in Ukraine, certain prominent messages in the mainstream media have reflected and highlighted the Kremlin’s narrative.
Since the outset of the invasion, the Russian media has focused on two main goals for the Russian military to achieve in Ukraine. The first is clearing Ukraine of a Western military presence (and later also dismantling Ukraine’s nuclear weapons). The second goal is the "de-nazification" of Ukraine, which according to the Russians means the removal of elements and symbols associated with "Nazis" and Ukrainian nationalists. Ukrainian soldiers were accused of harming Russian civilians in the separatist districts of Donbas and Luhansk, and the Russian military was cast as the entity designated to protect them.
The course of the war has been presented as part of a broad and comprehensive military initiative that is progressing according to plan. The difficulties encountered by the Russian army during the fierce battles in the eastern Ukrainian cities, whether military or logistical, were not discussed at all in the Russian media. The main emphasis was and remains on harming hotspots, civilian or military, where according to Russian intelligence there are Western weapons. This narrative creates a difficulty in estimating the number of casualties on the Russian side, as the gap between Western and Ukrainian media reports and Russian media reports is huge.
Finally, it is important to the Russian government to show its control over political and internal affairs, in order for internal public diplomacy to serve both the needs of national consciousness and all that has to do with the power struggle in Russia’s top circles. In the meantime, the media refers to external political moves that Russia spearheads – meant to show Russia is not isolated and holds meetings with its allies. In this context, consider Russia’s division between those who are allies and those who are not. For example, much emphasis was placed on publishing a list of countries that were defined as "unfriendly" toward Russia, such as those that imposed sanctions on Moscow.
Regarding Russia's internal dynamics, moves that are perceived as important for maintaining support for President Putin are emphasized, such as increasing pensions and old-age assistance.
These issues have been aired throughout the Russian media, despite the fact that the heavy sanctions imposed on the country weigh in the background. In addition, many commentators and economists have referred to the strengthening of the ruble in recent days despite the sanctions, in order to signal to stakeholders in power to continue to support the Russian government’s actions.
The Russian media is an important element in Russia’s cognitive war. Throughout the war in Ukraine, certain prominent messages in the mainstream media have reflected and highlighted the Kremlin’s narrative.
Since the outset of the invasion, the Russian media has focused on two main goals for the Russian military to achieve in Ukraine. The first is clearing Ukraine of a Western military presence (and later also dismantling Ukraine’s nuclear weapons). The second goal is the "de-nazification" of Ukraine, which according to the Russians means the removal of elements and symbols associated with "Nazis" and Ukrainian nationalists. Ukrainian soldiers were accused of harming Russian civilians in the separatist districts of Donbas and Luhansk, and the Russian military was cast as the entity designated to protect them.
The course of the war has been presented as part of a broad and comprehensive military initiative that is progressing according to plan. The difficulties encountered by the Russian army during the fierce battles in the eastern Ukrainian cities, whether military or logistical, were not discussed at all in the Russian media. The main emphasis was and remains on harming hotspots, civilian or military, where according to Russian intelligence there are Western weapons. This narrative creates a difficulty in estimating the number of casualties on the Russian side, as the gap between Western and Ukrainian media reports and Russian media reports is huge.
Finally, it is important to the Russian government to show its control over political and internal affairs, in order for internal public diplomacy to serve both the needs of national consciousness and all that has to do with the power struggle in Russia’s top circles. In the meantime, the media refers to external political moves that Russia spearheads – meant to show Russia is not isolated and holds meetings with its allies. In this context, consider Russia’s division between those who are allies and those who are not. For example, much emphasis was placed on publishing a list of countries that were defined as "unfriendly" toward Russia, such as those that imposed sanctions on Moscow.
Regarding Russia's internal dynamics, moves that are perceived as important for maintaining support for President Putin are emphasized, such as increasing pensions and old-age assistance.
These issues have been aired throughout the Russian media, despite the fact that the heavy sanctions imposed on the country weigh in the background. In addition, many commentators and economists have referred to the strengthening of the ruble in recent days despite the sanctions, in order to signal to stakeholders in power to continue to support the Russian government’s actions.