I've been using this Atlas thread as my main source of news on what is happening live in the war between Russia and Ukraine (Thanks NOVA Green and everyone posting links to verified tweets!) because my normal news sources, mostly podcasts, tend to lag what is happening by as much of a day. I think that overall, besides a couple of trolls, that the insight of my fellow Atlasians has covered anything I might be able to add to the discussion too. However, today's episode of
Vox's Today Explained added another perspective that maybe should've been clear but that I, at least, had missed.
For today's episode, "What Russians think of Putin's war," they interview Meduza investigative reporter Aleksey Kovalev. The whole interview is interesting, but what struck me the most was that Kovalev says around 21 minutes in that Russian state television is not allowed to tell people that there is conflict outside of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
Russians that only consume news from the state media channels, they wouldn't be even aware that there is military action in Ukraine. So it's being sold to the public as this special operation to liberate - that's the word they're using - those newly independent regions of eastern Ukraine recognized as independent by Russia.
The state media only reports military clashes and confrontations in those breakaway republics because the operation is being sold to the public as liberation of those - you know - our fellows Russian speaking Ukrainians - our brothers - from the yolk of this Nazi junta. And I'm not exaggerating, this is the word they're using in those reports.Again, this seems to be something reflected by many of the Russian soldiers and prisoners of war who, when tasked with invading Ukraine itself, would rather surrender or sabotage their own equipment. It seems like the fact that Russia is attacking the capital and other cities around the country is something Putin would like to keep completely secret to all but his inner circle. Even Lukashenko showed that massive map of Ukraine split four ways when he spoke earlier today (although I do not know the full context of who that was done for and who was able to see it).
Kovalev described the disconnect between what Russians are seeing on their news and feeling in their wallets as "...the struggle between your fridge and your TV set." His belief was that people will start asking questions as they feel the mounting pressure of sanctions from the West, which will probably also coincide with soldiers sending information back to their families that will undoubtedly leak. But, if Russia continues to try and stamp out opposition sources, imprison protestors, and impose strict requirements on state news, it makes me wonder how long it will take for those questions to be asked.
It also makes me wonder if the United States and/or others would attempt to break those state-run broadcasts. Ultimately, if the Russian people remain behind Putin, it will be difficult to change what's happening on the ground in Russia. I know that Anonymous has posted about briefly taking over a state television channel to broadcast the truth from Ukraine, but I wonder if there are plans for any larger-scale attempts.
