“But in Israel…” Iranian missiles and Russian propaganda

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The large-scale Iranian attack, carried out at night on April 14, is hotly discussed in Ukrainian society. Ukrainians, who have been suffering from Russian massive shelling for more than two years, do not need to explain how important an effective air defense system is. In this context, the effective military support provided by the USA and other countries to Israel during the attack naturally attracted attention. Predictably, it is compared to how the partners deal with the issue of strengthening Ukraine’s defense capabilities for an infinite amount of time and carefully (so as not to provoke Moscow!).

It is naive to think that Russian propaganda is not trying to influence this Ukrainian discussion. However, our task is not only to repel Russia’s informational attacks, but also to effectively convey our own arguments to Western audiences, primarily to the United States.

Exclamations from Russian “gallery”

According to sociologists, Ukrainians have a positive attitude towards Israel: the majority consider this country friendly and support Israel in its conflict with Iran. In addition, Israel is considered a positive example of a country that has high defense capabilities and effectively opposes powerful enemies. And it is precisely our sympathies for Israel that Russian propaganda often manipulates to promote destructive narratives in Ukrainian society.

These narratives are common knowledge. For example, after the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023, Russia spread fakes that the terrorists used weapons originating from Ukraine. This attack was not only aimed at Western societies. They also tried to convince the Ukrainian audience in the corruption and inadequacy of the state leadership.

In the following months, Russia deployed an already targeted IPSO against the Ukrainian audience, trying to demoralize it with messages that the US would now direct all resources to support Israel and leave Ukraine to its own devices.

The Iranian attack on Israel on the night of April 14 also became a reason for intensifying of Russian propaganda: they say that the Ukrainian authorities are to blame for the fact that the US helps Israel more than Ukraine.

All this is a small part of a broad information and psychological operation that Moscow has deployed against us since the first days of a full-scale invasion. Its goal is first to demoralize Ukrainian society, and then to direct its anger against its own state, military and political leadership, partner countries, etc.

Achievements and challenges

If you look at the facts, the situation in Ukraine, although difficult, is not as catastrophic as Russian propaganda claims. Against the background of problems with receiving aid from the US, Ukraine is intensively developing relations with European partners.

For example, on April 11, Ukraine and Latvia signed a bilateral security agreement, which provides, in particular, security obligations. Similar agreements have already been concluded with Germany, France, Great Britain, Denmark, Canada, Italy, the Netherlands and Finland.

During the two years of the full-scale war, the partners have really done a lot and continue to do for Ukraine, even if not always in the amount we would like.

As for the United States, the situation in Congress is really problematic. However, if you look more broadly, its roots go beyond the US internal politics. Let’s remind that on the night of April 14, not only the US, but also Great Britain, France and even Jordan helped to repel the Iranian attack on Israel.

Despite the invaluable aid that Kyiv receives from London and Paris, both countries are still not ready for active military support for Ukraine. Thus, Macron’s idea of sending troops to Ukraine was criticized by a number of NATO member states. And the UK Foreign Ministry said the other day that it is necessary to avoid “direct interaction of NATO troops with Russian troops.” Likewise, the United States is showing restraint, if not indecision.

The reason for this should be sought not in Washington, Paris, London or Berlin, but in Moscow. It was there, in the Kremlin, that the real Russian “wunderwaffe” was created – the illusion of fanatical fierceness of Russia, forcing NATO states to limit their efforts to prevent a possible “escalation”.

As early as 2022, Ukraine destroyed the myth of the invincibility of the Russian army, but allaying Western fears of “escalation” turned out to be much more difficult. And this is the main strategic goal of our diplomacy for 2024.

Of course, Russian propaganda will do everything to inhibit the support for Ukraine by NATO countries with threats of “drawing into the war.” However, Kyiv’s task is to point out the objective fact, that the war has been knocking on doors for a long time, and it is the Western’s indecisiveness and lack of haste that prompts Russia to escalate its aggression far beyond the borders of Ukraine.

After all, before that, the sound of “Shaheds” appear the first time in the sky of Israel, this sound is well known for Ukrainians.