In Russia, propaganda is mobilized to stir up hatred against a “Ukronazi” government

“Here’s to you, dogs! », “Good memories of Donbass”, “It’s still too little, too bad for the civilians”… This January 14, the news of a missile strike on a residential building in Dnipro, Ukraine, barely became known as commentators went wild. In a few minutes, as the toll continued to swell – it would reach 45 dead – thousands of Russian Internet users let themselves go on the “patriotic” channels of Telegram messaging, where the most fervent supporters of the “special military operation” launched by the Kremlin almost a year ago.

Read also: War in Ukraine Live: A year after the start of the war, the first Leopard tanks arrive in Ukraine

The tone is violent, the smileys laughing or enthusiastic. The few messages doubting Ukrainian responsibility in the drama are erased, and those who express compassion, rebuffed. “And them, did they cry for Donetsk? »question multiple contributions, with reference to the ongoing conflict since 2014 in the Donbass. “You have to remember that these people have never sought to stop their Ukronazi government, and they swallow the propaganda that accuses Russia of everything. »

How many Russian citizens justify or rejoice in the death of Ukrainian civilians? A small minority, contrary to what these few comments might suggest. The only existing survey on the subject was conducted in January by the Levada Center, the last independent institute in Russia. “Among the respondents, only 11% say they feel hatred towards Ukrainianssays its director, Lev Goudkov. In addition to the highly ideologized nationalist fringe, it is above all the over 45s who get their news only from television and belong to the most disadvantaged social strata of society. »

Also read the report: Article reserved for our subscribers In Ukraine, the historic break with the Russian people

Certainly, we must add to this figure some 30% who say they feel distrust, fear or hostility towards Ukrainians. Conversely, 28% mention ” sympathy “ for their neighbors. Sign of the difficulty of reading such studies, this last category includes both Russians who are frankly opposed to the “special operation” and others who support it but believe that the Ukrainian people only aspire to be liberated by Moscow. . Note, moreover, that “Ukrainian” arouses much more massive negative feelings (70%) than “Ukrainians”.

conflict paradox

This subtle distinction corresponds to the ridge line followed by Russian propaganda for many years. His main idea, which Vladimir Putin repeatedly exposed, is that Ukrainian state and nation-building is a scam, a fiction that has only served to ward off the “brother people” of his Russian roots. This idea deeply rooted in the Russian imperial psyche is at the center of the discourse justifying the “special operation”: it is not a question of oppressing the Ukrainians but of saving them from an alien, Nazi political regime sold to the West.

You have 54.14% of this article left to read. The following is for subscribers only.

source site-29