The Gap Between Russian Propaganda and Reality: Increasing Tensions and Insecurity Among Citizens

In the last week, fires have also been reported in two fuel storage facilities in and around Crimea. Last weekend, a Ukrainian attack on the border town of Suzemka killed at least four.

There has also been an increase in the number of train derailments in Russia, and other somewhat strange events. For example, when a Russian bomber lost ammunition over the Russian city of Belgorod, and a fighter plane that crashed near Murmansk.

The picture Putin and his men who “pusher” 70 are trying to paint of Russia is about to split the country in two, as the truth is about to catch up with them.

“Everything under control”

– The whole country lives in a form of nervousness. Russian propaganda constantly presents that everything is under control and the authorities behave as if everything is normal. Nevertheless, the real picture is beginning to emerge with incidents such as drone attacks, fires and sabotage.

This is what Inna Sangadzhieva, head of department for Europe and Central Asia at the Norwegian Helsinki Committee, tells us. She says it is the gap between what the authorities say, and what the Russians themselves are now seeing that creates insecurity among the citizens.

– They know when things like this happen. Also, soldiers come home from the war and report on what is happening. People learn that there is a war going on that the authorities deny, says Sangadzhieva.

The marking shows two different Russias

– The conflict between what the authorities want their citizens to believe, and what is actually the case, becomes even clearer around 9 May, says Sangadzhieva.

The marking shows two different Russias; one side wants to use the day to remember those who were lost and those who want to stop the ongoing war, while the Russian authorities, on the other side, want to remember the victory during World War II and want to use the victory to legitimize to attack other countries.

– There is a gap between what the Russian authorities want and what Russian citizens want.

The day is considered to be the most important commemoration of the year, because it marks the one time Russia has won anything, the victory over the Nazis during World War II. But for the Russian regime, World War II is temporarily not over, says Sangadzhieva.

– The war has not been won yet, and therefore it is legitimate for Russia to “defend itself against NATO”. Putin claims that the war against the West has been fought before, and then Russia won. He believes that there are still many Nazis who need to be fought, and is then referring to the West.

This year’s 9 May commemoration will not be celebrated in the usual way due to the risk of new attacks.

– Putin sitter in Germany

Now that the gap between what Russian citizens see and what the Russian authorities say is increasing more and more, Putin’s weaknesses are also coming to light. Sangadzhieva says that Putin is now “sitting in the bag”.

– Putin has three points he makes use of; violence, propaganda and economics. Now these points are starting to burst one by one.

That drones are allowed to attack the Kremlin shows that the authorities are unable to ward off threats. It has now become possible to challenge the authorities without being caught.

– Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner Group, also speaks freely and criticizes the Russian authorities. It also shows that the so-called “elites” can express themselves beyond what the Russian authorities have control over.

Regarding the economy, Sangadzhieva says that one cannot say anything about how much money is left. It has previously been claimed that Russia has the finances to carry on the war for a long time to come, but the Russian expert believes that this is uncertain.

– There is also speculation as to whether Putin will be able to finance what he has promised to pay the soldiers he is recruiting for the war.

Because most Russians do not want to join the war, so they must be paid to become soldiers.

There will be more protests

In the future, Sangadzhieva believes that there will be more protests in Russia. As soldiers return home from the war and report the atrocities that are happening there, people will protest more.

– The Russian people do not want war. It is the authorities, made up of white men aged 65+, who want war. Those who have grown up in the Soviet Union with KGBwith his head full of conspiracy theories.