Ukraine
The Ukrainian agenda continued to dominate the reports of military propagandists. During the month, the following topics were most frequently raised: mobilization, the offensive of Russian troops in Kharkiv кegion, and the «peace conference» in Switzerland. Domestic policy issues, including the legitimacy of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, were also touched upon. A separate block of propagandists’ messages was devoted to cultivating the thesis about Ukrainian «Nazis and terrorists«.
Mobilization
Mobilization remained one of the most popular topics among propagandists. A number of main narratives were used to cover it: «war to the last Ukrainian«, «not mobilization, but mogilization«, «all Ukrainians will go to the slaughter, except for officials and their children«, etc.
For example, the death of a conscript in a military commissariat was linked by propagandists to the genocide of Ukrainians: «Rampant corruption, criminality and genocide of the Ukrainian people have already become the norm at the legislative level in Ukraine. People will not get the truth, and criminals will continue to make fun of Ukrainians«. We are talking about the situation that occurred on May 5 in Saksagansk military commissariat, where a conscript died. The official cause of death was called epileptic seizure. However, the family of the deceased does not believe in this version and believes that the man could have been beaten to death.
And this is how propagandists commented on the speech from May 18 of the amendments to the Ukrainian legislation on mobilization: «Well, no more kava and drunken cherries in Lviv. Only war to the ‘last Ukrainian‘.» The changes provide for the obligation of all conscripts to update their military registration data and a number of other measures.
Among other things, the amendments to the legislation on mobilization, which came into force on 18 May, also adjusted the procedure for mobilization of vehicles (military transport duty). In the propagandists’ reports it was noted that in case of announcement of demobilization of transport means the cars will not be returned to the owners — «at most they will give the owners a link to the car flea market, where the military sell the cars «handed over» to the AFU«. It is noteworthy that Belarusian military legislation also fixes the order of realization of the military transport duty. For example, from 2023 Belarus can mobilize even tractors and ATVs.
Developing this topic, propagandists wrote that since May 19, Poland has abolished duties on imports of used cars from Ukraine. This measure was taken allegedly for the subsequent export of cars «mobilized» from Ukrainians: «Coincidence? No, of course not! And Ukrainians continue to be naive and tolerate all this. Maybe enough is enough? It’s high time to start fighting for their rights and do something about this bewitched Kiev regime.» It was not possible to find confirmation of the abolition of the duty on import of cars from Ukraine to Poland. It is possible that there was deliberate misinformation in this case.
In general, the positioning of changes in the order of mobilization in the publications of military propagandists can be briefly summarized by the following quote: «The Kiev regime continues to send Ukrainians to slaughter and sees no edges in the bloodshed.
Also in May, the Verkhovna Rada passed a law allowing the mobilization of prison inmates. Despite the fact that in Russia since 2022 the recruitment of prisoners for participation in combat operations has been widely used, military propagandists criticized the Ukrainian experience: «As we can see, now the situation with the shortage of «cannon fodder» has become so acute that, despite the resistance of prosecutors and judges, a mass pardon of convicts who want to «redeem themselves with blood« is being prepared» .
The Russian Armed Forces offensive in Kharkiv кegion
On May 10, the Russian Armed Forces launched an offensive in Kharkiv Oblast. At the initial stage of the offensive, when the Russian army had successes, the reaction of military propagandists was upbeat and positive. For example, covering the battles for the city of Volchansk, the propagandists called the mayor of the city «gauleiter.» The propagandists also published reports of the Defense Ministry on the progress of the fighting, commented on the appointment of a new commander of the operational-tactical group of troops «Kharkiv», and predicted the soon encirclement of Kharkiv.
However, in the third decade of May there were practically no significant publications on the subject. This can also be attributed to the fact that the front in Kharkiv region was stabilized, and the offensive of the Russian troops stopped.
Terrorists and Nazis
In their messages, propagandists continued to use references to World War II (Great Patriotic War) in the context of Russia’s war against Ukraine. Through analogies that are understandable and close to a wide range of people, the propagandists support the narrative of fighting «Ukrainian Nazis«.
For example, on the eve of the Victory Day celebrations on May 9, an exhibition of trophy weapons and military equipment of NATO countries captured by the Russian military opened in Moscow. In addition to the exhibition, military propagandists proposed to «hold a march of defeated (captured) foreign mercenaries, fighters and fugitive terrorists«, so that the whole world could see «who are the real accomplices of the Kiev regime, conducting genocide of the Ukrainian people«. The propagandists probably got this idea from the experience of 1944, when a march of captured German soldiers (the so-called «parade of the defeated») was held in Moscow.
The story is also developed by the propagandist of VoenTV Konstantin Gagarin. Thus, in the issue of the program «Disposition» of May 11, the propagandist commented on the above-mentioned exhibition in the following way: «NATO countries are presented at this exhibition in a very respectful manner. The Nazis were once grandly presented with their standards at the foot of the Kremlin«.
In the same vein, one can also consider the publications about 7 AFU servicemen who underwent military training in Germany, but were sent back to Ukraine after they were found to have «right-wing extremist symbols» (it was not specified which ones): «Oh, they noticed. The Germans suddenly remembered their laws, not even a few moons later. It took them a long time to identify something, because it was not one day that the Mykols were trained by them. The ice has broken, I guess, with the Germans. They remember the history. As noted in a press release published on the Bundestag website, «Ukrainian nationalists do not pose a threat to a possible peace process in Ukraine» and that «it is Russian imperialism that lies at the heart of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine«.
Another proof of the existence of «Nazism in Ukraine» was the presence of tattoos with symbols of the Special Operations Forces and the Third Reich among AFU servicemen who had arrived in France for training. And the French do not prevent this in any way. And, accordingly, are themselves Nazis: «Where is all the public that once shouted that ‘the French are not like that, they have anti-fascism in their blood’? Where are the crowds of indignant grandchildren of the participants in the resistance, in which almost every second person was a member, if the French are to be believed? And no, because even «Mein Kampf» is freely available there, and let’s not mention the French Special Operations Forces regiment Charlemagne«.
It is noteworthy that propagandists describe the events in such a way that every single Ukrainian military officer carries symbols of the Third Reich and is a supporter of Nazi ideology. Without generally denying the existence of individual such cases, it is hard to believe that the military would be universally equipped with Nazi symbols.
Military propagandists used quite aggressive rhetoric when commenting on the shelling of Russian territory by the Ukrainian armed forces. Such shelling was often recognized as acts of terrorism and the Ukrainian military as terrorists.
For example, this is how propagandists commented on the attack on the vehicles of an agricultural enterprise in the Belgorod region, as a result of which six workers were killed: «This is yet another terrorist act, a grave crime of the Kiev terrorist regime with no statute of limitations, which only proves once again that there can be no dialog with terrorists. Only complete destruction of those who give such orders!«. Comparing the Ukrainian military with terrorists makes it as easy as possible for the consumer of information to perceive the events taking place in Ukraine now. They are terrorists, we are not. They are bad — we are good. There can be no negotiations with terrorists — they must be destroyed, etc.
In a similar vein, propagandists commented on and the rocket attack on a restaurant in Donetsk, where participants in a rally for the so-called «DNR Day» had gathered: «It was to be expected that Zelensky’s terrorist regime would carry out an attack on such a day. On Bankova today they are celebrating ‘peremoga’ because of the killing of civilians.»
At the same time, the war crimes that Russia regularly commits on the territory of Ukraine do not arouse strong emotions among military propagandists.
Domestic Policy
In a comment on the news about the partial suspension of some clauses of the European Convention on Human Rights and Freedoms in Ukraine due to martial law, military propagandists wrote: «On the contrary, during his oath of office, ZE promised that he would «defend the rights and freedoms of citizens». As we can see, he screwed both the Ukrainian people and his oath! Zelensky’s regime is legalizing not only current political practices, but also an authoritarian model of governance for the future, using «pan-European« political institutions, which do not even have real power».
It is noteworthy that propagandists paid attention to the observance of human rights in Ukraine. Although some of them consider human rights to be hostile to Belarus. In fact, Ukraine informed the Council of Europe about the possibility of restricting certain human rights as early as 2022, right after martial law was introduced in the country. Moreover, in April 2024, the restrictions on a certain set of rights were revised and the Council of Europe was informed about it. Simply put, the list of human rights that can be restricted due to martial law was reduced. The described situation is an example of misinformation.
Another internal political topic that appeared in the messages of propagandists was the presidential election. The topic of not holding presidential elections in Ukraine was positioned in the propagandists’ messages as follows: it is a violation of democratic processes; why elections are not postponed in other countries, but in Ukraine they are postponed; Belarus would be criticized if the elections were canceled, etc.
The propagandists clearly promoted the Russian narrative on the elections, as an election campaign in a war situation could destabilize the internal political situation in Ukraine. This scenario has a clear beneficiary in the person of Russia.
Thus, in response to the statement by US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken that the timing of new elections in Ukraine depended on the will of the country’s population, propagandists wrote: «Well, free people, how is your democracy? Read between the lines — there will be no elections. We won’t be surprised if soon «Sleepy Joe» declares that the elections in the USA should be postponed, and further on, following Zelensky’s pattern! But if Belarus had been so «hammered on democracy», it would have already started…. But here it’s different.
The legitimacy of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has become another topic that has been touched upon by propagandists. The point is that on May 20, he celebrated exactly five years in office as president. In this connection, Russian propaganda (and officials) started using the thesis that Zelenskyy was allegedly illegitimate because no elections were held in Ukraine.
For example, military propagandists called the result of the legitimacy crisis to be the impossibility of signing legally significant documents as head of state: «Apparently, this is why a number of Western states are trying by all means to postpone the signing of agreements on the so-called mutual provision of security guarantees to a later date. After all, the authorities of the same EU countries understand perfectly well that if they sign such agreements after May 20, they will not necessarily be implemented.
Also in separate publications propagandists began to call Vladimir Zelensky «procrastination».
«Peace Conference» in Switzerland
The propagandists commented on the preparation of for the «peace conference», which was to be held in Switzerland on June 15-16: «In any case, it is very clear that the conference is just a cover for another coven of Western obscurantists, for whom the first priority is their own enrichment rather than the search for a peaceful solution«. The propagandists also wrote that «the so-called peace conference on Ukraine is aimed not at peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, but at presenting an ultimatum to Moscow».
Western countries
Western countries were high on the propagandists’ agenda. Some of them were in the context of Ukraine. During the month, propagandists paid most attention to Poland and the Baltic States. The topics of sending NATO troops to Ukraine, authorization to use weapons against targets on the territory of Russia, military and technical assistance to Ukraine were also raised. Other vivid events were also covered (for example, the attack on the Slovak Prime Minister).
Sending NATO troops to Ukraine
This is how military propagandists reacted to the statement by Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Shimonite that «Lithuania is ready to send its soldiers to Ukraine on a training mission«:
«Most likely, this is another round of aggravation on the part of the West at the muttering about red lines. Why Lithuania? It’s simple. They send a couple dozen people, they get hit. Lithuania howls all over the world about the so-called «Russian unjustified aggression», imposes martial law, then sends troops to the west of «Nezalezhnaya» and blocks the Suvalki corridor to Kaliningrad. Everything obvious is simple.
Restrictions on the use of weapons on targets in Ukraine
A number of statements by the politicians of Western countries about the possibility of Ukraine using the supplied weapons to strike targets on the territory of Russia were viewed by propagandists in two ways. On the one hand, in the understanding of Western politicians, propagandists called «peaceful population» rather than military targets «legitimate targets». And, as a consequence, authorization to carry out strikes was equated with support for terrorism. On the other hand, the possibility to carry out strikes on Russian territory was an instrument of its weakening by the hands of Ukrainians.
For example, this is how propagandists commented on NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg’s statement about lifting restrictions on the use of Western weapons against «legitimate targets» on Russian territory: «Legitimate targets in the understanding of Western politicians are the peaceful population of Russia. Terrorism is precisely a product of the West«.
And this was the comment on Poland’s permission to use weapons supplied to Ukraine against targets in Russia: «That’s the whole guts of the Warsaw regime: not sparing a neighbor, beating him with the hands of another and yet remaining ‘clean’. But it sounds loud, don’t you agree?«.
Military and technical assistance by Western countries to Ukraine
Because a large number of countries are providing military and technical assistance to Ukraine, Russia is at war with the entire «collective West». The propagandists found confirmation of this thesis in the report of the Kiel Institute for World Economy. According to the document, the Czech Republic gave Ukraine 60% of its heavy weapons, Norway — 53%, Denmark — almost 40%, and the Netherlands — 38%. Germany and the United Kingdom each sent Kiev 25 percent of their military equipment, while France sent 22 percent.
According to the propagandists, «This is a rating of countries that will soon be able to be taken with bare hands. In other words, these are indicators of the largest in the history of mankind utilization of weapons and Ukrainians at the expense of these very weapons». It was also noted that «The figures once again prove that the Russian army on the battlefield is fighting not with the AFU, but with the military power of the entire Europe and the United States, whose military-industrial complex capacities have long been unable to satisfy Kiev’s appetites, but still continue to do everything to create as many problems as possible for the Russian army.»
With certain periodicity, propagandists also raise the topic of the quality of transferred equipment and weapons. They say that Ukraine is a place for the disposal of low-quality equipment.
For example, more than 100 vehicles have been handed over to Ukraine under the London-based ultra-low emission zone (ULEZ) scrappage program. About half of them have already been delivered. In order for a «decommissioned vehicle» to be sent to Ukraine under the program, it must perform a function such as providing medical assistance or evacuating civilians.
According to propagandists, this is «Another confirmation that the West gets rid of unnecessary junk and «throws away» it under the pretext of aid. And Ukroreikh doesn’t care about increased emissions or anything else. There is a possibility that these vehicles will not reach the front, but the money will fall into the pockets of the leadership of Ukraine.
Poland
Poland in propaganda reports was seen mainly as a country that was preparing to attack Belarus. For example, in response to the news about the beginning of fortification works on the border with Belarus, military propagandists stated that Poland was not preparing for defense: «It is obvious that the fortification works are done only for diversion for the sake of additional assistance from NATO countries«. And as an additional confirmation of their words, the propagandists point to their «intelligence», according to which «Poles leave space for the passage of equipment in the fortifications being built«.
In the May 24 edition of the program «According to Form,» VoenTV propagandist Anna Chizh-Litash also refers to the same intelligence data: «We can assume that these will be long-term fire points — pillboxes, dugouts, pit shelters, anti-tank barriers, potholes. This is done ostensibly for defense reasons. But it is not. Exclusive from our intelligence: in the fortifications being built Poles leave space… for the passage of equipment«. From all this, the propagandist concludes that Poland is clearly preparing for offensive actions. However, the origin of the «intelligence exclusive» could not be found.
It is noteworthy that at the end of May there was a presentation of the «Eastern Shield» (this was the name given to the project of fortifications on the border with Belarus). It was noted that the task of the fortification is defense and limiting the mobility of enemy troops. The project provides for the development of transport rear infrastructure to ensure mobility of the Polish army movement.
At the same time, investments in Poland’s military infrastructure contrast so strongly with the peaceful creation that reigns in Belarus: «While the Republic of Belarus is dealing with food security issues, the Polish regime continues to pursue an aggressive policy towards Belarus and Russia. In a militaristic frenzy, Duda and his servants escalate and destabilize the situation in the European region, continuing to intimidate Poles with a non-existent threat from the East.» Moreover, «Belarus threatens no one and seeks peaceful coexistence not only with its closest neighbors. The sooner Warsaw realizes this, the more money will remain in the budget of Poland and the EU as a whole«.
In other words, the propaganda tries to support the thesis of Poland’s aggressive policy and Belarus’s peaceful intentions by any means. For example, the movement of a column of military equipment of the Polish army is recognized as preparation for aggression. Which is not surprising, because according to the propagandists, Poland «is probably the most militaristic country next to Belarus«.
In the same issue of the program «On Form», the propagandist compared the present-day Poland with «Germany of the Second World War«: «The pace of increasing the production and purchase of armament, propaganda of Russophobia, destruction of the historical heritage of the country, formation of Nazi ideology — we see everything«. It is noteworthy that the propagandists speak not about the propaganda of Belarusophobia (which, supposedly, should bother her more), but about the propaganda of Russophobia (which Russian propagandists should rather worry about).
As can be seen, historical parallels with Nazi Germany are actively used when making Poland the main enemy of Belarus. At that, the propagandist speaks about the period of World War II (i.e. since September 1, 1939). At the same time, the USSR actively cooperated with Germany until 1941, supplying it with raw materials and supplies.
The propagandists also drew attention to other internal political developments in Poland.
For example, on May 1, Warsaw hosted an anti-war rally demanding that the government immediately stop supplying weapons and equipment to Ukraine. Several hundred people took part in the event, which is a very small action for a city of almost two million people. According to Polish media, such few actions are held. According to propagandists, «These people are trying to prevent the catastrophe that the ruling pro-American regime is preparing for Poland«.
According to the established tradition, propagandists blamed the Belarusian mass media for covering the event: «It’s not hard to guess that oppopopomoyki will not notice these desperate marches of Polish citizens. This is different.»
The propagandists did not ignore the series of fires that were recorded in Poland in May. The fires could probably have been a sabotage by special services of foreign countries. However, the propagandists put the responsibility for the fires on Ukrainians. The arsons were committed allegedly in retaliation for the blocking of borders, refusal to transfer military equipment and discrimination against Ukrainian refugees: «It seems that our assumptions are correct: everything points to the revenge of the Kiev regime on Warsaw for its intransigence» and «Poles have brought Bandera’s descendants to heel: either Warsaw will follow Kiev’s lead, or Poland will shudder with fires«. In this case, propagandists skillfully take advantage of the difficult moments of Polish-Ukrainian relations and actively accuse Ukrainians of arson.
Slovakia
On May 15, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fitzo was wounded in a shooting. In comments on the events, military propagandists immediately tried to link the events to Ukraine, writing that Fitzo «is known for opposing aid to Kiev«. This thesis was promoted by propagandists and in other publications: «Fitzo advocated the earliest possible end to the war in Ukraine through negotiations with Russia. … Given the above facts, it would not be surprising if the traces of the customers lead to Ukraine«.
Later, propagandists covered the politician’s health condition.
Baltic States
Propagandists closely follow the drills taking place in neighboring countries and do not leave them without comments. The reports often emphasize the proximity of drills from the border with Belarus, as well as the unfriendly nature of the very fact of various maneuvers. At the same time, the propagandists accuse the Baltic States of increasing tension. In case of participation of representatives of other NATO countries in drills, it was emphasized that they (military) are occupants of the Baltic States.
Paradoxically, the Belarusian military itself regularly conducts military drills near the border with the Baltic States. Sometimes this is due to technical factors (for example, the Hozhski training ground is located several kilometers from the border). However, in addition to this, Belarusian Armed Forces units regularly practice covering certain parts of the border.
For example, from May 13 to 19, the drills «Black Arrow 2024» took place in Lithuania: «NATO occupiers together with the Lithuanian military will occupy areas … . The area of the drills is not far from the checkpoint «Miadininkai» on the border with Belarus. Given that the same Lithuanian town of Lentvaris is 60-70 km away from the Belarusian Ashmiany, NATO and Lithuania decided to rattle their weapons right on our doorstep«.
In Latvia, military drills were held from May 18 to 27. Propagandists commented on them as follows: «These are not the first drills in which Riga, as well as Vilnius and Tactical drills with Tallinn, giving in to the anti-Belarusian and anti-Russian psychosis, promote the NATO ideology in such a way, and thus increase the degree of unfriendly sentiments towards Belarus, as well as aggravate the already difficult situation on the border«.
In the May 24 edition of the program «In Form», VoenTV propagandist Anna Chizh-Litash touched upon the topic of increasing the number of the Lithuanian army. The propagandist looked at the issue from the economic point of view: «The army is very expensive. And where the country will get the money from is an interesting question, as its economy will not allow even 5% to cover the issue of military equipment.
Incidents that occur during drills are not without comment. For example, in Ristiküla, Saarde Parish, during the major drills «Spring Storm», a drone crashed, resulting in a «landscape fire» that took an hour and a half to extinguish. In their commentary, propagandists resorted to replicating stereotypes about slow Estonians: «Friendly fire, as the American warriors say. It was definitely not without it, everything is according to NATO standards. But it is worth noting that the drone fell in the morning, by lunchtime we were surprised to learn that communication with the drone had been lost, and by evening the ‘hot’ Estonian guys discovered the burning field«.
It is noteworthy that Belarusian military during drills arrange such fires, which can be seen even from space. And for their liquidation they have to use helicopters.
As in the case of Poland, the Baltic States are constantly accused of preparing aggression against the «Union State». For example, this is how propagandists commented on Defense Minister Kasciunas’ proposals to «develop the drone ecosystem» in Lithuania: «Even though Kasciunas claims that these measures are designed to ensure Lithuania’s defense system, there is evidence of preparation of the population of the Baltic States for aggression against the Union State.
Germany
Sometimes propagandists in their publications comment on the news with restraint and quite correctly. For example, the report about Germany’s plans to bring back conscription was commented on by propagandists as follows: «It’s funny that not so long ago the prevailing opinion in the West was that conscription was a relic of the past. But the last few years have well demonstrated that in a protracted conflict of high intensity, a compact professional army is quickly exhausted and a mobilization reserve is indispensable«. It is hard to disagree with such an opinion.
The work of the MIC
One of the propaganda techniques is the assertion that the war in Ukraine is profitable for the military-industrial complex of Western countries, since arms companies earn money from military aid.
As an example, propagandists cited German concern Rheinmetall, whose capitalization has grown by 138% since the beginning of Israel’s military operation against the Gaza Strip in October 2023, and by 547% since the beginning of the war in Ukraine. A quote…. «Does anyone else have any doubts that the longer the war lasts, the richer the war magnates will get and the more loans will have to be repaid by several generations of Ukrainians?«.
Accordingly, the focus of attention is shifting from Ukraine’s opposition to Russia’s external aggression to the enrichment of individual countries and arms companies that profit from the war.
A special attention should be paid to the publication devoted to the plans of to build a TNT plant in Finland because of its shortage. In addition to accusing the Finns of wanting to «profit from the blood», the propagandists hinted at possible sabotage of the future plant: «Apparently, the Finns also wanted to make money on the blood of Ukrainians, it is not enough for Poland to be a monopoly and take over everything. Here, however, the main thing is that the whole Finland should not suddenly blow up or poison the local flora and fauna. For a start, they should have asked how the Germans deal with such plants.
Belarus and Russia
Among the most significant events to which military propagandists reacted during the month were the flight of Polish Judge Szmydt to, drills with tactical nuclear weapons, and appointments in the military departments of Belarus and Russia.
It should be noted at once that unlike the events of the foreign agenda (for example, the Ukrainian agenda), where propagandists have a general orientation of narratives to be broadcast, in the internal Belarusian or Russian agenda they do not have such a great freedom of statements. Therefore, in general, there are practically no peculiarities that would distinguish the resources of military propaganda from Belarusian military propaganda in general.
Judge Szmydt
Among the internal Belarusian agenda, the remarkable reaction of propagandists to the flight of Polish judge Tomasz Szmydt to Belarus is especially worth mentioning. The judge’s speech at the press conference was characterized as «a real information bomb!«, and the flight of the judge in general — «A blow under the breath of the Polish authorities. Here they are trying to defame a person’s name in hindsight with the help of six people from the bureaucracy. As for the agents, who collect information inside Poland in the interests of the Belarusian security services, there are indeed many of them, especially among the Zmagars. Someone is an agent, and someone is just a useful idiot…«.
In response to the information that the Polish prosecutor’s office opened espionage case against Judge Szmydt, who had traveled to Belarus, the propagandists noted «that the truth turned out to be very inconvenient for someone in the big Polish offices.
Overall, there was little coverage of the Judge Szmydt story amidst the current news agenda.
Drills with TNW carriers
In the coverage of the testing of the Belarusian Armed Forces units capable of using tactical nuclear weapons (note: it took place on May 7-8), the military propaganda resources did not promote special narratives and messages. Coverage of the drills was limited to broadcasting the main statements of the officials of the Ministry of Defense of Belarus and Lukashenka.
VoyenTV propagandist Konstantin Gagarin devoted an issue of the program «Disposition» of May 12 to «verification of non-strategic nuclear weapons in Belarus». Some quotes:
«The training certainly equipped the world media agenda with bright colors. High thoughts were expressed by all democratic experts known to the planet. In a nutshell, we are almost destroying the foundations of civilization. By the way, when such maneuvers are conducted by Americans, they simply do not notice it, because it is trivial. But here the barbarians are raising their heads, spoiling the appetite of the golden billion.
«The West has authorized strikes with its missiles deep into Russia. Moscow has warned of the possibility of strikes on those objects that it deems necessary to destroy not only in the «Nezalezhnaya». … Russia decided to hold drills with this component. Given the situation, we joined the training. After all, if it comes to special munitions, we will definitely work together«.
Appointment of a new Chief of General Staff in Belarus
On May 23, Major-General Pavel Muraveika was appointed to the post of the Chief of the General Staff of the Belarusian Armed Forces of Belarus. Apart from stating the fact of the appointment, propagandists reacted to the publications in independent Belarusian mass media, which mentioned Muraveika’s odious statements: «How it is blazing now on all extremist cesspits. And all of them, as if under copying, grunt at the mere fact that the new Chief of the General Staff promised to cut a corridor to the Baltic in case of blockade of Kaliningrad. They squealed then, and they are squealing now…. Such is their fate!«.
Appointment of a new defense minister in Russia
On May 12, Putin appointed former First Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov as the new Defense Minister. Military propaganda did not show any particular reaction to the event. Apart from news and non-assessment reports, no assessments were published. There were also published statements of the new minister without any assessments.
The only evaluative comment on Belousov’s appointment of defense ministers was the following: «Today in Ukraine and the West, Belousov’s appointment is almost the number one topic, given the great anxiety with which they write about changes in the Russian defense ministry.»
Konstantin Gagarin, propagandist of VoenTV, devoted an issue of the program «Disposition» of 21 May to the appointment of the new Minister of Defense of Russia — in the context of deepening cooperation of the Belarusian military-industrial complex with the Russian one: «Of course, the consequences of the decision with such wording will be serious, including for Belarus. Economic synchronization with an eye on military needs is not carried out for a short period of time. And Minsk needs to fully take into account that the prospect in the region requires from us a maximum and long-term tension of forces to preserve peaceful skies. … It is good to see that the defense ministers of Belarus and Russia established contact in the most expeditious manner, held telephone talks, where Andrei Belousov stressed the special relationship between the armed forces of the two countries.
