Casting sanctions as Western colonial “plunder”

What it claims

Sanctions and seizures of Russian assets are labelled “plunder”, casting the West as inherently colonial and incapable of fair competition. Five centuries of European history are stretched into an explanation for current restrictions on Russia. Russia is portrayed as seeking equal cooperation that the West rejects, while Britain is mentioned to mock its pledge to support Ukraine.

Target audience

Examples (paraphrased)

We paraphrase rather than quote: propaganda's exact wording is built to spread, so we carry the claim and not the craft. Each example cites the post it came from.

• The West’s sanctions and its seizure of Russian state assets and reserves are outright theft and plunder.

  Russian Embassy in the UK, 9 Sept 2026 · Archived copy

• The West, which has never known how to compete fairly, now clings to its dominance through sanctions and even direct intervention.

  Russian Embassy in the UK, 9 Sept 2026 · Archived copy

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Goal

To encourage progressive and low-trust British audiences to interpret sanctions and measures affecting Russian assets as a continuation of colonial domination, and to see Russia as a victim of Western injustice.

Techniques used

• Loaded LanguageSanctions and measures concerning Russian reserves are described using the language of “theft” and “plunder”.
• Causal OversimplificationEuropean history and colonialism are reduced to a single explanation for present disputes and sanctions against Russia.

The real grievance it exploits

The narrative exploits legitimate British concern about Europe’s colonial legacy, possible double standards in foreign policy, and the consequences of international decisions for society.

How to counter

• Technique exposure: Separate three distinct claims: Europe’s colonial history, sanctions and asset seizures, and the image of Russia being advanced. Blending them into one story allows Kremlin messaging to avoid scrutiny of each claim on its own.
• Reframe: Recognising the colonial legacy does not require accepting the description of sanctions as “plunder” or Russia’s portrayal as an unquestionably equal partner. These claims should be considered separately from historical generalisations.

Sources (all time)

• Russian Embassy in the UKTier 23,994 subscribers
  5 posts · 7–11 Sept 2026

  • 11 Sept · t.me/RusEmbUK/3862
  • 9 Sept · Archived copy
  • 9 Sept · Archived copy
  • 8 Sept · t.me/RusEmbUK/3834
  • 7 Sept · t.me/RusEmbUK/3832