"What was once crude Kremlin bluster about Ukraine and the West has become a subtler, more manipulative story aimed squarely at a weary domestic audience. From the Duma to the Foreign Ministry, officials are now preparing Russians for shortfalls at home and on the battlefield. Even the throttling of Telegram and YouTube is being sold as part of a "war with NATO", a slogan that reveals more about the state of the Kremlin's narrative than the state of the war."
"Now it is being repurposed to explain away buffering wheels and broken connections. According to reports, users across Russia are already noticing disruptions, slower speeds, dropped connections, even as officials deny that a full block is planned. Gurulyov's framing turns mundane internet restrictions into existential warfare rhetoric, something I have repeatedly warned would happen as paranoia sets in and expectations are quietly lowered."
Moscow's public messaging has shifted from swagger to a brittle, defensive tone focused on managing domestic expectations. Crude bluster about Ukraine and the West has been replaced by subtler, manipulative narratives aimed at a weary population. Political and diplomatic institutions are preparing citizens for shortages at home and setbacks on the battlefield. Internet throttling of Telegram and YouTube is being presented as part of a supposed "war with NATO", repurposing NATO expansion as justification for technical failures. Users report disruptions and slower speeds even as officials deny full blocks, while propaganda fills the gaps and normalises external-threat framing.
Read at London Business News | Londonlovesbusiness.com
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