Picture was generated by AI.

History as an Excuse: How Russian State Media Justify the War

Россия в деталях

Russian state media highlight soldiers in Ukraine aiming to continue their ancestors legacy of defeating fascism. One soldier, a former history teacher, talks about his grandfather who fought in the same area.

More languages
Published at
Edited at

The Russian government focuses special attention on how history is portrayed through official channels, curating the narrative to match their version of events. While history may be in the making at present in the war in Ukraine, Russian state media are more than ready to draw a straight line connecting the past and the present as a means of justifying the war.

Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past.

George Orwell

“De-Nazification” of Ukraine and the world

This strategy has been employed long before the full-scale invasion began; however, a specific interpretation of history occupied a central part of Vladimir Putin’s announcement on February 24th, 2022 of the “de-Nazification” of Ukraine as part of the goals of his war. While the word “de-Nazification” sounds awkward in Russian, the idea that Ukraine needed to be rid of Nazis was not a new one within Russian state media. Since the events of 2013 and 2014 in Ukraine, the Russian government had been keen to focus attention on what it considers the glorification of so-called Nazi collaborators, such as Stepan Bandera and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, which were also used in Vladimir Putin’s declaration.

Despite the complicated history of this part of Europe and the even more complicated relationship between locals and occupying German forces, Russian state propaganda prefers a simplistic approach that displays anyone who collaborated with the Nazis as fascists who opposed the Soviet Union. This simplification extends beyond Ukraine to engulf the pivotal historical event in the eyes of the Russian government - World War II or the “Great Patriotic War” as it is called in Russia.

The Victory Day

Today, Victory Day is celebrated as one of the most important holidays in Russia in terms of the resources expended. While in Europe and the United States, the end of the war in Europe is celebrated on May 8th, Russia celebrates it on May 9th. This is because when Nazi Germany signed its capitulation with the Allies, it was May 8th in Berlin and already May 9th in Moscow. It was not always a day of pompous celebration, however. In fact, parades on Red Square were only organized to commemorate jubilee years during the Soviet Union, as two other holidays occupied more important roles in Soviet history - the anniversary of the October Revolution on November 7th and International Workers’ Day on May 1st. It was not until the 2000s that Victory Day rose to the status it currently enjoys, with military parades and other festivities being held throughout the country.

Moscow Victory Day Parade
Moscow Victory Day Parade

Along with the holiday, the politics of remembering World War II and Victory Day itself have served as ammunition in the Russian government’s efforts to use the event as a means of stressing Russia’s role in the world and the unique path it has taken. As evidence, Russian state media often runs stories on how European countries restrict celebrations of Victory Day, remove memorials to Soviet troops, or have too few, in the eyes of Russian media, commemorations. With the ongoing war in Ukraine, Russian state media has focused special attention on the holiday to demonstrate to its viewers that Europe has forgotten the Soviet Union’s role in the war and now supports fascism.

How is that relevant now?

Media such as this positions the Russian government and people as the keepers of the truth about the war and the Soviet people’s role in defeating Nazi Germany. Part of this role is to declassify select archival documents. One news report emphasized that publicating such documents is “aimed at opposing falsifications and to maintain the memory of the Great Patriotic War, the heroic heritage of our people, and their decisive role in the Victory over Nazism.”

With the official narrative emphasizing the Soviet (and now, Russian) people as the victors, Russian state media draws a direct connection between the Red Army soldiers who marched across Europe in 1943-1945 and the Russian Army that invaded Ukraine in 2022 and the soldiers fighting this war today. Focusing attention on the “de-Nazification” of Ukraine, news reports leading up to May 9th showed soldiers in Ukraine talking about living up to their grandfathers and great-grandfathers as they also “liberate Ukraine from fascism.” Another interview featured a soldier stated to have three degrees and who was a history teacher before the war. While moving along the frontlines, the soldier tells about his grandfather who fought in the same region of Ukraine as he is today. Referring to the US’s role in providing supplies to the Soviet Union, this soldier states “That was when America helped to fight Nazis and not with them like now.”

The benefits of this narrative are in its simplicity, which Russian state media uses to justify the war. With its monopoly on information within Russia, state media is able to construct its version of history without expecting its traditional viewers to conduct their own research and fact check the information. Such a narrative is difficult to counter, as anyone who does can be easily labeled as a Nazi sympathiser.

Feedback

Have you noticed any grammatical or factual mistake? or simply select the part of the article you want to comment on.

You can also send us e-mail:

feedback@after-russia.org

Мы еще не перевели эту страницу на русский язык. На данный момент вы можете ознакомиться с ней на английском языке.

Get involved

Присоединяйтесь к нашему проекту! Став частью нашей команды, вы поможете нам охватить больше тем, которыми мы будем делиться с нашей аудиторией.

See all positions

Поделитесь своей историей

Мы собираем истории русскоговорящих людей, разделяющих ценности мира и демократии.

Ваш опыт поможет людям за рубежом понять нынешнюю ситуацию в России и проблемы тех, кто уехал вынужденно или по собственной воле.

Если вы россиянин или лично знаете кого-то, кто хотел бы поделиться своей историей, пожалуйста, напишите нам.

News & Updates

Follow us

Subscribe for updates

Join our newsletter for up-to-date stories and information on new developments in the Russian society.

Follow us

Наша позиция в отношении войны России с Украиной

Россия начала войну против Украины. Эта война продолжается с 2014 года. Она только обострилась 24 февраля 2022 года. Страдают миллионы украинцев. Виновные в этом должны предстать перед судом за свои преступления.

Российский режим пытается заставить замолчать либеральные голоса. Русские люди, настроенные против войны, существуют, и российский режим всеми силами пытается заставить их замолчать. Мы хотим сделать так, чтобы их голоса были услышаны.

Взаимосвязь имеет решающее значение. Российские либеральные инициативы порой трудно воспринять европейской общественности. Правовой, социальный и исторический контекст России не всегда понятен. Мы хотим поделиться информацией, навести мосты и соединить либеральную Россию с Западом.

Мы верим в диалог, а не в изоляцию. Оппозиционные силы в России не смогут ничего изменить без поддержки демократического мира. Мы также считаем, что диалог должен быть двухсторонним.

Выбор за вами. Мы понимаем гнев из-за преступлений России. Вам решать, хотите ли вы прислушаться к русскому народу, выступающему против этого.