Russian Propaganda Tactics in Ukraine's Newly Occupied Territories

Abstract

Russian propaganda tactics in the post-2022 occupied territories initially mimicked the approach taken in Crimea. Russian forces seized communication infrastructure and blocked information. They actively spread narratives that heralded Russia’s liberating mission and vilified Ukraine. Nevertheless, the propaganda was of limited efficacy, as suggested by the need to create, after autumn 2022, a two-tier system differentiating propaganda messages to Russian and (occupied) Ukrainian audiences, using fear to control the latter. The analysis ends by considering counter-strategies to support exiled local media as well as the residents of the occupied territories.