Pro-Kremlin propaganda narratives designed for Western societies

Russia’s propaganda narratives orientated towards its domestic audience have little effect on Lithuanian and Western societies. Narratives tailored for the Western audiences by Kremlin propaganda actors feature topics that are sensitive in the West.

• Economic and energy shortages. The Kremlin’s information policy actors attempt to convince Western societies that international sanctions against Russia will have a significantly bigger negative impact on Western countries than on Russia. European economies will collapse and the governments will fail to ensure their citizens’ basic needs if they refuse to buy Russian energy resources.
  
• Instigation of conflicts among Western states. Russian propaganda often draws attention to disagreements between European states, attempts to instigate conflicts on war-related topics between the U.S. and EU; also between Western and Eastern Europe. Kremlin policy supporters disseminate in Lithuania disinformation that Poland allegedly poses a threat to Lithuania’s independence and territorial integrity, since following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine Poland significantly increased its defence spending.
  
• Negative image of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the Ukrainian nation. During the first days of invasion, Russian propagandists disseminated a narrative that Western military support to Ukraine would only prolong the war, whereas the Russian Armed forces would achieve a victory that will result in the occupation of the entire Ukrainian territory. After Russia’s military setbacks and liberation of some previously occupied Ukrainian territories, Kremlin policy supporters started to disseminate fake news that Ukraine allegedly was reselling donated weapons and military equipment to other countries, even to Russia.