"Free no one": Russia's propagandist gives real reason for the invasion

Created: 2022-11-20 15:33

By: Andreas Apetz

Sergei Mardan speaks disparagingly about the people of Ukraine on Russian state TV.

© Screenshot Russia Media Monitor

On Russian propaganda television, a talk show guest explained the real motivations behind the invasion of Ukraine.

Moscow – The fact that propaganda is carried out in the Russian state media is nothing new and no longer surprises anyone.

Russia always takes on the role of guardian of decency and morality.

The invasion of Ukraine was thus always disguised as a "special operation" with the virtuous aim of liberating the Ukrainian population from the ruling Nazi regime.

While that narrative quickly collapsed in the rest of the world, large sections of the Russian population swallowed the Kremlin's story.

But in the meantime, the state TV seems to speak more and more plain language.

Just recently, a Russian war correspondent said that Russia had never invaded Ukraine to liberate anyone.

Russian state television: Derogatory statements about the Ukrainian population

The journalist Sergey Mardan moderates the state-controlled TV channel "Russia 1".

His news programs are primarily about backing up Russian propaganda.

The propagandist is always supported by his interview partners.

Mardan talks particularly often to his talk show guests about the Ukraine war.

So also during a program with the Russian war correspondent Dmitry Steshin.

The

team translated the conversation and published an excerpt of it on

.

In the two-minute video clip, Mardan and his interlocutor Steshin explain that the Ukrainian people have built their identity on "the denial of everything that is Russian".

In doing so, the people would be in denial of their own roots, which Steshin calls a "horrid deviation."

One cannot therefore regard Ukrainians as “people with full morals and a normal thinking apparatus,” says Steshin.

Russian State TV: Propagandist admits they don't want to 'liberate anyone'

Then the Russian war correspondent finds clear words: “We don't need to liberate anyone there.

We must take what is ours and make them afraid to even think about breathing in the wrong direction.” That this does not just mean the occupation of Crimea, but larger parts of Ukraine Steshin clarifies shortly afterwards.

“Kyiv, at least, shouldn't be able to keep them.

After that we will see what a beautiful life we ​​will create for them and how they want to reconsider their identity."

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However, the talk show guest does not see any good forecasts for the future.

He fears that in an "ideologically porous" Russia, without clearly defined "national goals," President Vladimir Putin's current crusade will be in vain.

"They will trick us again, just as they tricked the clever, clever and evil Bolsheviks," suspects Steshin.

Just recently, moderator Mardan also admitted that Russia made a mistake in expecting an easy victory over Ukraine.

He then spoke of an impending "rude awakening".

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