A prominent Kremlin figure recently boasted about Russia’s strategies to influence Western opinions on the Ukraine conflict during a February state TV appearance, which has recently gained attention.
Margarita Simonyan, the head of the state-sponsored media outlet RT, shared her thoughts in a live broadcast on Russia-1. Julia Davis, founder of the Russia Media Monitor, highlighted this in a post on X (formerly Twitter) with a video excerpt.
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“I’ve often pointed out Simonyan’s bragging about RT’s hidden initiatives targeting Americans, especially those leading to indictments against RT staff. Keep expressing yourself, Rita; loose lips sink ships,” Davis commented while sharing the video again.
During her discussion, Simonyan remarked that Western public opinion is shifting rapidly regarding the war due to these “covert projects.” She claimed that Russia has constructed a vast network aimed at influencing Western perspectives and delivering “the truth” to audiences abroad since Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022.
“This could be a breakthrough moment for us,” she stated, attributing the success to Russian soldiers. Simonyan suggested that Western media narratives reflect a lack of ammunition leading to Ukraine’s territorial losses.
Simonyan also noted that disagreements among Ukraine’s Western allies about military aid are contributing to the ammunition shortage. “Public opinion dynamics cannot be underestimated; they are a powerful tool,” she emphasized.
In a related note, the U.S. warned its citizens in July against Russian propaganda ahead of the upcoming November 2024 elections. The Foreign Malign Influence Center identified Russia as a significant threat to U.S. electoral integrity in their latest security update.