Why occupiers brought an African delegation to Savur-Mohyla
Russia organized a propaganda event in the occupied Donetsk region with representatives from African countries. A delegation of 12 parliamentarians, including officials from Somalia, Uganda, and South Sudan, visited the Savur-Mohyla memorial complex to honor the memory of “heroes who fought against the Nazis and Ukrainian nationalists.”
Through this event, Russia aimed to achieve several goals simultaneously:
– Expanding its influence in Africa;
– Creating the illusion of international recognition of Russia’s control over the occupied territories of Ukraine and support for its actions on the global stage;
– Discrediting Ukraine in the eyes of the international community by promoting the narrative of Ukraine as a “Nazi state”.
To appeal to African nations, Russia leverages anti-colonial rhetoric, attempting to position itself as a successor to the struggle against colonialism and imperialism, contrasting itself with the West.
This event was also designed for a domestic audience. By involving an African delegation, Russia sought to add an “international dimension” to the event, creating an appearance of global legitimacy for the occupation and countering the local population’s sense of isolation.
Russian propaganda once again manipulated historical memory to justify armed aggression, framing the war as part of “Russia’s historical mission to fight evil.”
