Kremlin Launches Propaganda Campaign for 12th Anniversary of Self-Proclaimed 'DPR'

According to Ukrinform, the Kremlin has begun a significant propaganda campaign in the temporarily occupied territory of Donetsk, marking the 12th anniversary of the declaration of the so-called 'DPR'. The Center for Counteracting Disinformation under the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine reports that this campaign includes car rallies, mass events, and various 'patriotic' initiatives.

One of the most notable events took place in Donetsk, where a column of trucks was arranged to form the symbolic number '12'. These activities are accompanied by typical narratives about the 'historical choice of Donbas' and 'the will of the people', which are characteristic of Russian propaganda, as indicated in the report.

At the same time, propagandists are attempting to suppress key facts regarding the role of Russian militants and special forces, who arrived in large numbers from Russian territory in 2014 and participated in the seizure of administrative buildings in Donetsk. These actions marked the beginning of the region's further occupation, yet this information is often ignored in propaganda materials.

Moreover, Russian propaganda prefers not to mention life in the region before the onset of Russian aggression. Prior to 2014, Donetsk was one of Ukraine's key industrial centers, boasting a developed economy and infrastructure. However, over the years of occupation, the region has deteriorated to the level of a depressed 'Russian hinterland', another aspect that remains unaddressed in propaganda campaigns.

The active involvement of youth in such events serves a pragmatic purpose. Many of these young individuals have grown up under occupation and do not remember what Ukrainian Donbas looked like. This makes it easier for the occupiers to impose a distorted perception of the events of 2014 and the current reality, experts from the Center for Counteracting Disinformation emphasize.

Additionally, as reported by Ukrinform, the 'authorities' in the temporarily occupied territory of Donetsk plan to develop 'military-historical tourism', which is also part of a propaganda strategy aimed at legitimizing the occupying regimes and strengthening their influence over the local population.

Thus, the preparations for the 12th anniversary of the declaration of the so-called 'DPR' are not merely a celebration but also part of a broader propaganda campaign aimed at shaping the perception of occupation as a positive and desirable process, which undoubtedly raises concerns among experts and observers.

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