Russia is reportedly struggling with the invasion of Ukraine, which is about to enter its second year, but the transformation of Russian society is progressing at a tremendous speed.
Putin’s crackdown is reminiscent of the time when Andropov, a former KGB head whom Putin views as a hero, was the supreme leader. Citizens who even remotely suspected Putin’s official line were imprisoned, and curricula that mixed nostalgia for the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union were hastily introduced in schools and universities across the country.
Artists, writers and actors are deprived of space for expressing critical views, and their works are replaced by those that adhere to the Soviet “traditional values” enacted by Mr. Putin. When teachers and priests advocate peace instead of war, children condemn it.
In an attempt to win public support, the Russian government has handed out cash payments to poor rural residents and shut down all the media outlets that cast a critical eye on the government’s official narrative. On the other hand, events staged by the government are extensively covered by state media. Putin rarely mentions the war in Ukraine directly, emphasizing its economic successes, new social benefits and refurbished health facilities, maintaining the image of the war as a distant event.
The same message was delivered in this week’s annual State of the Union address. In his speech, Putin blamed the United States and its allies for the war in Ukraine, but gave no indication of when the war would end. Meanwhile, he promised new benefits for veterans and their families, and touted the value of combat experience as “the best lesson of life.”
So far, the message is getting across. A majority of Russians say they are ready to continue the war, according to independent polls, even if the invasion drags on far longer than the days initially expected and Russian casualties swell to the tens of thousands. According to consultants at the Kremlin’s office, only about 20% of respondents said they wanted the war to end sooner, even if it meant admitting defeat.
Putin delivering his annual State of the Union address
Source: Bloomberg
Daria, 36, who works as an accountant, said she was adamant about her husband’s plan to join the war shortly after the invasion last year and threatened to divorce her. Still, her husband, a veteran and combat veteran, went to war. Her husband returned for vacation in the summer, but by then Darya had changed her mind.
“Now I see my husband as a hero. Men shouldn’t be hiding behind their mothers when the country needs it,” she said. said he plans to pay off the mortgage. Darya asked not to reveal her surname and city of residence, out of fear of speaking publicly to the U.S. media.
Pro/Disadvantage of Military Action in Ukraine
Source: Levada Center
After Russian military routs in Ukraine, Putin began to shift his narrative to say that Russia was not fighting Ukraine, but the West as a whole. Polls say this explanation resonates more with the public than the removal of the Ukrainian government, which he claimed was the original reason for the invasion. The United States and its allies have not actually joined the fighting, but this perception remains.
The perception of strong support has bolstered confidence that Russia can ultimately win, even at a much higher cost, said a person close to the Russian leadership.
President Putin delivers his annual State of the Union address to the Russian parliament (21st)
Photographer: MIKHAIL METZEL/AFP/Getty Images
news-rsf-original-reference paywall">Original title:Russians’ Support for Putin’s War Hardens as His Crackdown Grows(excerpt)
