russian propaganda has ramped up stories about officials who have allegedly resigned from their posts to join the war effort.

▫️ These stories are part of a propaganda strategy aimed at encouraging public participation in the war. They are meant to address public dissatisfaction over the fact that government officials are not being drafted. The kremlin tries to portray the war as not just “for the poor” and to eliminate the perception of social inequality among its participants.

▫️ In reality, officials play a largely symbolic role in the war. Russian media even report the existence of special units for the “elite,” where conditions are notably different from those experienced by regular soldiers.

The main goal of these officials who publicly “go to war” is to strengthen their standing in the government by aligning themselves with the so-called “new elite” that the kremlin is forming from war participants. By gaining the status of “hero of the smo,” they hope to increase their influence and secure greater loyalty from the kremlin.