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Although Soviet dictator Josef Stalin died 70 years ago, his presence seems ubiquitous in the increasingly authoritarian Russia of Vladimir Putin. “We are definitely living inside Stalin’s legacy, where the main things are fear, atomization, submission, and other social evils,” a commentator wrote.
In the weeks since President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine, Russia state TV broadcasts have been a blur of unsubstantiated, often wildly false claims about the war and the actions of Kyiv and the West. Here’s a sampling.
As Putin marched toward war with Ukraine over the last four months, the Russian public largely watched in disbelief. It seemed impossible that Russia would attack a country so near and dear to the hearts of millions of ordinary Russians. With the guns now blazing, Russians face a new reality.
With a “youth army,” a cathedral honoring the military and state media promoting patriotism, the government is preparing Russians for the possibility of a fight.
With a “youth army,” a cathedral honoring the military and state media promoting patriotism, the government is preparing Russians for the possibility of a fight.