‘Congratulations, you’re in your right mind’ How the Kremlin’s war propaganda moved over the course of a year from ‘tremble, Ukraine!’ to praising Russia’s ‘difficult, dignified present’

This article condenses propaganda statements made by the Kremlin’s media machine in a campaign to justify and popularize the Ukraine invasion among Russians. Below, you’ll find some of the slogans, cliches, malicious jokes, and sentimental truisms spread by the state media, by Russia’s self-styled “war correspondents,” pro-Kremlin talking heads, bloggers, and other public personalities. To be more exact, there are two different compilations here: one from the early days of the war (when the expectations of an easy victory galvanized the Kremlin) and another from after Moscow’s initials hopes were dashed. The rhetoric is still manipulative, but the manipulations have changed. Here is Putin’s war propaganda, then and now.

Then

For eight years, Ukraine talked about being at war with Russia. They shouldn’t have cried “Wolf!”

This isn’t a war; it’s a special operation for compelling peace.

The president has made clear that Russia doesn’t want to occupy Ukrainian cities. Even the Kyiv propagandists admit that Russia only strikes at military targets.

Ukrainian troops, why sit in those trenches waiting to die? You should have surrendered first thing in the morning. Why try to resist if you know you can’t win? Don’t you know how many Ukrainians are baking pies for the “invaders”?

It won’t be long before we see Zelensky in Poland or London, but no longer in Kyiv.

We won’t touch Ukrainian civilians, but we’ll silence the weapons sent in from the West.

Western puppeteers only respect strong players. We have now shown our strength. The great and powerful Russia is back. We’re an empire and can make fateful decisions.

Yes, combat always means tragedy. But some situations leave no other choice.

“No to war” is a traitor’s manifesto. We might have put up with traitors before, but now there will be no mercy.

Now

A year ago, Russia awakened from years of deep slumber. The war with the U.S. and NATO has long been inevitable. The only question was where it might begin.

The only question with regard to the special military operation and its necessity is “What took so long?” Even Vladimir Putin acknowledged this last fall.

Russia waits long but punches hard. This is exactly what we’re seeing. It’s hard to imagine what Zelensky must be going through. He’s probably wondering why he got into this mess, but it’s too late.

If the military operation ended 11 months ago, Ukraine would have preserved its sovereignty and hundreds of thousands of soldiers’ lives. But that opportunity is lost.

The main difference between ourselves and what the U.S. did in Iraq and Vietnam is that we’re fighting for our own land and for our own people.

It’s been a year since we entered a new epoch. We must admit there’s no way back. We have no illusions. The war will be long and hard, and we can only hope it won’t be nuclear.

That well-fed, complacent past life was a kind of phony. Our difficult present is better than the easy past.

If, a year into the military operation, you still don’t know what Verkhny Lars is, and if you think of those who left and now besmirch Russia from abroad as traitors, then congratulations: you’re healthy and in your right mind.