russia’s propaganda campaign in the TOT for the “day of national unity”
russia has launched a large-scale propaganda campaign in the temporarily occupied territories ahead of the “day of national unity.” Across these areas, monuments, memorials, and exhibitions are being opened en masse to glorify participants in the war against Ukraine.
▫️ In Donetsk, a “memorial to the defenders of Donbas” was unveiled, attended by sergey kiriyenko — first deputy chief of staff of the russian presidential administration and the kremlin’s curator of information policy in the occupied territories. In Volnovakha, a monument was erected in honor of the so-called “dnr” militant Volodymyr Zhozia, while in moscow, an exhibition was opened equating World War II soldiers with participants of russia’s aggression against Ukraine. Events commemorating propagandists killed in combat zones are also taking place.
These events are designed to create an illusion of historical continuity — suggesting that the current war is a continuation of the “sacred mission” of soviet soldiers. In this way, under the guise of a “holiday,” the kremlin seeks to absolve itself of moral responsibility for its crimes against Ukraine, portraying the occupation of territories as part of a “great historical narrative.”
