ANATOMY OF PROPAGANDA: TOP 3 EVENTS OF THE WEEK

State propaganda, during the reporting week, has focused on convincing Russian society of the need to introduce an electronic database of military conscripts. Russians also explained why military "Victory parades" would not take place in several regions of the Russian Federation and why the war with Ukraine is a "godly" cause.

The main reputational challenge for Kremlin was adopting a law on an electronic register of military records. Electronic ones complement traditional paper summons through the state services portal. The initiative caused extremely negative reactions on social networks, as it minimizes the possibility of evasion from conscription. Official spokespersons tried to reassure society through federal media. Dmitry Peskov stated that the register is not associated with mobilization but only with accounting. However, such statements further aroused suspicion among Russians. Therefore, the fact that Putin signed the law was announced on Friday late in the evening, when the majority of the Russian Federation's population could no longer think critically.

Since the beginning of Russia's military aggression against Ukraine, military facilities, military equipment and troops on the territory of the Russian Federation have become legitimate targets for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The governors of several regions of the Russian Federation bordering Ukraine, throughout the week have announced the cancellation of traditional military "Victory parades" on May 9. Similar statements were made by the authorities of Kursk, Belgorod and occupied Crimea. The reason for this was the fear of striking at the accumulation of military equipment and military personnel in the city centre.

Easter Celebrations have articulated the religious aspect of propaganda. In connection with this, insinuations by propagandists about the "persecution of Orthodox believers in Ukraine" started to sound with renewed force. The Patriarch Kirill of the Moscow Patriarchate also stood out, again attempting to justify Russia's treacherous attack on Ukraine. Regular calls to war and disrespect for Christian commandments have become a distinctive feature of the Moscow Patriarchate and allow it to be interpreted as a pseudo-religious organization serving the ideological demands of the Russian authorities.