What Russia says about Ukraine in the West
We analyse pro-Russian outlets aimed at Western audiences, which anti-Ukraine narratives they push, how they work, and how to counter them.
Amplifying the sense of Ukraine's "international isolation" by exaggerating diplomatic disputes
Routine policy debates in the EU and US regarding budgets, migration, or historical memory are cast as the inevitable collapse of Western support and a final rupture in relations. Isolated statements from opposition figures or complex stages of EU accession talks are inflated into a narrative of Ukraine's total global isolation.
Attributing “terrorism” and war crimes against civilians to Ukraine
Ukrainian defense forces are portrayed as a terrorist group that deliberately targets civilians and critical infrastructure. These messages aim to shift the responsibility for humanitarian disasters onto Kyiv and justify Russian aggression as a “defensive” measure.
Predicting the inevitable energy and military collapse of Ukraine
Ukraine is portrayed as a failed state whose defeat is preordained by the exhaustion of air defense resources and the critical destruction of its power grid. Manipulators use commentary from Kremlin-aligned experts to convince audiences that Western financial aid is futile.
Labeling the Ukrainian government as “corrupt and diplomatically incompetent”
The Ukrainian state leadership is portrayed as a system built on nepotism and corrupt traditions, allegedly leading to international isolation. Manipulators use isolated critical publications or statements to promote the thesis of the government's total professional incompetence.
Imposing the “puppet” label to dismiss Ukraine’s sovereignty
Ukraine is portrayed as a mindless tool of the West, supposedly used in a futile attempt to defeat Russia. This tactic aims to frame the defensive war as a foreign geopolitical project rather than a struggle for survival.
Labeling the Ukrainian government as an “illegitimate neo-Nazi junta”
Ukrainian statehood is portrayed as a criminal entity that has supposedly lost its legitimacy and is controlled by external forces. By using aggressive labels like “junta” and “neo-Nazi regime,” the narrative denies Ukraine’s right to sovereignty and international support.
Predicting the “betrayal” of Ukrainian refugees by European governments
European nations are portrayed as abandoning their humanitarian commitments to forcibly return Ukrainians to the front lines. This tactic aims to incite panic among refugees and erode their trust in host countries.
Labeling foreign volunteers as "mercenaries" to devalue international support
Foreign nationals joining Ukraine's Defense Forces are systematically portrayed as "mercenaries" and "soldiers of fortune" seeking only money. This framing aims to deny the ideological motivation of volunteers and convince Western audiences of the inevitable death of their compatriots.
Dismissal of state sovereignty through the “resource colony” label
Ukraine is portrayed as a corrupt territory whose natural resources are fully controlled by foreign powers in exchange for political support. Manipulators claim that any internal reform efforts are suppressed by the state leadership to preserve corrupt schemes and please external handlers.