Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Putin the imperialist: Why Ukraine is part of his dream of a Greater Russia

Vladimir Putin’s speeches and writings have often been dismissed as nationalist propaganda, but Russia’s invasion of Ukraine casts his thinking in a far more sinister light, writes Borzou Daragahi

Thursday 10 March 2022 00:47 GMT
Comments
<p>Russian president Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting with members of the government in Moscow, 20 October 2021</p>

Russian president Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting with members of the government in Moscow, 20 October 2021

Two days after Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine, the Kremlin’s state-controlled news agency RIA Novosti published, then quickly removed, what appeared to be a pre-written essay that hailed Moscow’s military victory over its neighbour.

“A new world is being born before our eyes,” said the flowery article, which was spotted by Kremlin watchers, translated, and distributed as an example of the propaganda and underlying mentality of Vladimir Putin’s inner circle.

“Russia’s military operation in Ukraine has ushered in a new era,” it read.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in