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Moscow is happy about Boris Johnson’s resignation, and Kremlin “sociologists” have already prepared the results of “referendums” on Ukraine’s occupied territories. The Centre for Strategic Communication and Information Security has collected the main fakes and narratives of the Russian propaganda of July 7.
- Ukraine has won the information war
- How the figures of “referendums” will be made up
- Billions wasted on propaganda
- Nothing will change in London re: Moscow
Ukraine has won the information war
Ukraine won the information war against Russia as early as February 24, when the occupiers realized that, despite assurances to the contrary, no one in Ukraine was ready to welcome them. That is, all the many years of preparatory work concerning the “liberating” army were wasted.
This unwelcoming attitude was then accompanied by the defeat near Kyiv, somewhat sobering up Russian information criminals like Sladkov, Pegov, and others.
Due to the subsequent successes of the Ukrainian resistance, Russia suffered massive losses, and is now trying to make up for them in every way: both material and moral.
Now “dying for Russia” has once again become a sacred duty, starting right from school. That’s how they came up with the narrative of “completing the work of our grandfathers in the Great Patriotic War against Nazism.”
IN REALITY, we have known for quite a while how excited Russians are about the prospect to participate in this war. And now we know how potential conscripts are getting assistance in getting out of it: on July 7, a criminal case on charges of bribery was opened against the military commissar of the occupied Crimea, Lymar.
This news is the best evidence of the futility of all efforts to stimulate the all-Russia spiritual unity on the occasion of the “liberation of Ukraine.” Note that this happened in Crimea — basically at the forefront of offence, where the command would expect lines of people hoping to protect themselves against the return of the “Nazis.”
This is not to mention remote areas of Russia, where the war with Ukraine is perceived as a TV show. This TV show, however, is sadly interrupted by regular funerals of those who did not come back from Ukraine on their own. Even in the Buddhist Buryatia, which, alongside the Muslim Dagestan, has become the main supplier of “cannon fodder,” people are starting to turn down the “honourable duty to die for the Orthodox Russian world” and demand to bring the men back home.
That’s the source of endless announcements about recruitment to military units, now even through the official unemployment office.
That’s also the reason for the establishment of regional Russian “national battalions.”
The reason for Wagner private military company and Russia’s MoD competing for new recruits.
The reason for the sequestration of the Russian budget, due to which the salaries of the security forces will be indexed by insane amounts.
And this was also the reason for our prediction that Russian inmates will be offered to fight in the Donbas, which has already come true. Prisoners are offered 200,000 roubles and an amnesty for joining penal battalions.
How the figures of “referendums” will be made up
On July 7, Putin reproached Russia that it is “living a regular peaceful life, while our guys are working there under bullets. We need nationwide support for the armed forces. It is critical that our soldiers feel it.” That is, the dictator did admit that national support is somehow not there.
But what about sociology, with its sky-high figures of support, both of Putin himself and the “special operation”? This way, Putin effectively admitted that Russian sociology is questionable at best.
Here is another confirmation. The first survey on the attitude to the “special operation in Ukraine”, which was held on February 25, showed that 64% of young Russians support the war.
IN REALITY, it turns out that 55% of the respondents of ages 18–24 and 45% of the respondents of ages 25–34 were against the war. And this was not published in media.
In addition, every year Russians find it more and more difficult to talk to sociologists about such topics.
In general, using sociology in a totalitarian country is pointless. People are just afraid of telling the truth.
The situation with “referendums” planned for the temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories is largely the same. Twice this spring, at the end of April and May, a survey was conducted specifically for the Kremlin in the towns and villages of the Donetsk oblast which had just been captured by Russia. People were asked how they felt about the “special operation”, Putin personally, whether they wanted their town to become part of Russia or the “DPR”, remain part of Ukraine or become independent? The results have not yet been published anywhere, but, as the organizers assure, most said they wanted to join Russia.
It is fairly obvious why this happened: in Volnovakha, in Manhush, in Nikolske and Bezimenne, “researchers” worked in refugee accommodation centres. In Mariupol, they were interviewed only at the place of humanitarian aid delivery from United Russia.
So, when the occupiers provide the figures eventually, it is good to keep in mind they are based on fear and hunger.
And this is despite the fact that the groundwork was laid long before February 24, with insane amounts spent.
Billions wasted on propaganda
Russia spends crazy (even by Western standards) money to promote its agenda. For example, T&R Productions, which produces content for RT America, received $18.3 million last year. These figures are published in documents on the website of the US Department of Justice.
The detailed report said that most funds were allocated for employee salaries — $8 million, another $3 million went towards paying for contractor services, and $2.3 million was office expenses.
RT costs are only increasing in Russia itself. According to the approved federal budget, in 2022-2024, Russia’s main propaganda TV channel will receive 82 billion roubles. For reference, only 9.357 billion was allocated to the Kiselyov holding “Rossiya Segodnya”, and 6.269 billion went to “Perviy Kanal.”
IN REALITY, despite the huge spending on RT America, Russian propaganda in the US proved to be completely ineffective. According to a Pew Research survey, more than 92% of Americans have a negative or extremely negative view of Russia.
Americans are not frightened by the horror of another “depression”, which has been predicted by Russian media since the beginning of the war in Ukraine. They approve of aid to Ukraine, even if it comes at the cost of rising inflation and high prices.
This was revealed in a June survey, during which 62% of respondents said they were ready to endure higher energy costs. 58% of the surveyed Americans spoke similarly about the rise in inflation. This is evidenced by a survey conducted by experts of the Brookings Institute.
Americans also support creating a no-fly zone over Ukraine. Support for this increased from 56% in March to 65% in June. And this is real sociology. No one holds the respondents at a gun point or demands personal information in exchange for a bottle of water, like in Mariupol.
Nothing will change in London re: Moscow
We have already written about the results of propaganda efforts to form a positive attitude to Russia overall and Putin personally — it is at rock bottom. According to the results of a study by Pew Research, conducted in 18 countries of the world, only 9% of the British respect the Russian dictator.
In this regard, the reaction to the resignation of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is very interesting. The infamous fight against Anglo-Saxons, which is called “existential” in Russia, has taught the Kremlin that there are no good PMs in the UK. Yet, the official Moscow literally received the main global news on July 7 with childish delight.
IN REALITY, the response of Medvedev and the rest of Russia’s political food chain is very reminiscent of Hitler’s reaction to the death of then-US President Roosevelt in 1945.
“My Führer!” Goebbels exclaimed. “Congratulations! Roosevelt is dead!” … According to Goebbels’ secretary, the Führer was ecstatic. His feelings were shared by Count Schwerin von Krosig: “This is the angel of history coming to us! We feel the flutter of his wings around us. Isn’t this the gift of fate that we were waiting for so eagerly?!.”
But rotations in London’s high offices will not lead to the emergence of “United Russia” factions in the Conservative and Labour parties.
One of the main candidates for the future leader at 10 Downing Street is the current Secretary of State for Defence, Ben Wallace — a professional military man who called Russia’s invasion into Ukraine “a repetition of fascism and the tyranny of the Nazis in World War II.”
The Kremlin should therefore be careful with this “gift of fate.” Ukrainians, by the way, also shouldn’t worry about their beloved British PM, who has helped the country in the time of need. In the UK itself, only 17% of citizens supported him in recent days. With the departure of Boris, British support for Ukraine may not be as visible in the media, but it will remain consistent and steadfast.
Johnson’s words that “Moscow must fail and be seen to fail” will surely be put into practice by his successors.
Therefore, the British style of dealing with Russia will prevail for a long time. At least until Russia itself changes its attitude towards the UK, Ukraine and the entire civilized world.
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