Russia's War

Russian forces attacked Ukraine in February 2022, but Russians view the war differently, seeing themselves as courageous underdogs and heroes battling a malign Ukrainian foe. Russia analyst Jade McGlynn explores the grievances, lies, and half-truths that pervade the Russian worldview and exposes the complicity of many Russians who have invested too deeply in the Kremlins alternative narratives to regard the war as Putins foolhardy mission.

Format: Hardback
Length: 264 pages
Publication date: 17 March 2023
Publisher: Polity Press

The attack on Ukraine by Russian forces on February 24, 2022, shocked the world with its brutality. However, a different narrative is being spun by the Russians themselves, portraying them as the courageous underdogs and kind-hearted heroes fighting against a malign Ukrainian foe. Russia analyst Jade McGlynn delves into this parallel military and political universe to uncover the often monstrous and misconstrued attitudes behind Russian majority support for the invasion.

Drawing on media analysis and interviews with ordinary citizens, officials, and foreign-policy elites in Russia and Ukraine, McGlynn explores the grievances, lies, and half-truths that permeate the Russian worldview. She also exposes the complicity of many Russians, who have invested too deeply in the Kremlin's alternative narratives to view the war as Putin's foolish mission. In their eyes, this is Russia's war – against Ukraine, against the West, against evil – and there can be no turning back.

The Russian government has propagated a narrative that portrays Ukraine as a corrupt and illegitimate state, while the Russian people are victims of Western aggression. This narrative has been reinforced by state-controlled media outlets and social media campaigns, which have spread misinformation and false accusations against Ukraine and its leaders. Many Russians believe that the invasion is necessary to protect Russian-speaking populations from Ukrainian nationalism and to restore Russia's rightful place in the world.

However, this narrative is not supported by the facts. Ukraine has a democratic government, a strong economy, and a diverse population that includes many Russian-speaking individuals. The Ukrainian military has been successfully fighting against Russian aggression, with the support of Western countries and international organizations. The invasion has resulted in the deaths of thousands of civilians, the displacement of millions, and the destruction of infrastructure and cultural heritage.

Despite these facts, many Russians continue to support the invasion. They believe that the West is hypocritical and that Ukraine is a threat to Russia's security. They also believe that the Russian military is performing a heroic mission and that the Ukrainian people are deserving of their suffering. This mindset is fueled by a sense of nationalism and a belief in the superiority of the Russian people.

However, it is important to recognize that not all Russians support the invasion. There are many who oppose it and have been vocal in their criticism of the Russian government's actions. These individuals include human rights activists, journalists, and political dissidents who have been targeted by the Russian government for their opposition to the war.

The international community has responded to the invasion with sanctions and other measures to hold Russia accountable for its actions. However, the Russian government has refused to cooperate with these measures, and has instead responded with further aggression and propaganda. This has led to a deepening of the divide between the West and Russia, and has raised concerns about the potential for further conflict and instability in the region.

In conclusion, the attack on Ukraine by Russian forces on February 24, 2022, shocked the world with its brutality. However, the Russian narrative that portrays them as the courageous underdogs and kind-hearted heroes fighting against a malign Ukrainian foe is not supported by the facts. The invasion has resulted in the deaths of thousands of civilians, the displacement of millions, and the destruction of infrastructure and cultural heritage. Many Russians continue to support the invasion, fueled by a sense of nationalism and a belief in the superiority of the Russian people. However, not all Russians support the invasion, and many have been vocal in their criticism of the Russian government's actions. The international community has responded with sanctions and other measures to hold Russia accountable for its actions, but the Russian government has refused to cooperate. This has led to a deepening of the divide between the West and Russia, and has raised concerns about the potential for further conflict and instability in the region.

Weight: 438g
Dimension: 144 x 224 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781509556755