Wars aren’t just fought on battlefields. They’re also fought in the minds of the people. For the Kremlin, shaping how the Russian public views the war in Ukraine has become just as important as the conflict itself.
With no clear end in sight, Russian leaders are already preparing to sell the idea of “victory,” no matter what happens on the ground.
According to The Moscow Times, the Kremlin has begun training regional officials on how to present the war’s results in a favorable light.
This was a key topic at a recent seminar for vice governors held at the Senezh Management Workshop near Moscow, according to Digi24.
Shaping the Narrative
The training sessions revolve around creating a public perception of success.
Officials were told to focus on the "silent majority" — a group the Kremlin believes will support the idea of victory if Russia retains control over occupied Ukrainian territories.
Different social groups will view the war’s outcome differently, trainers admitted. For some, it will be enough to hear that objectives were met. For others, more effort may be needed to convince them of the benefits.
Another major focus is what happens after the war — particularly with returning soldiers. The Kremlin instructed regional leaders to provide jobs and rehabilitation for veterans.
Without these measures, officials warned, some veterans might protest or turn to crime.
Preparing for Peace Talks
These PR efforts come as discussions of potential peace deals are surfacing.
Reports suggest that Donald Trump, the newly elected U.S. president, is considering a plan to freeze frontlines and impose a 20-year moratorium on Ukraine joining NATO.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has indicated he might agree to a ceasefire if unoccupied territories gain NATO protection.
The Kremlin, however, is sticking to its demands. Putin has insisted that Ukraine must withdraw from all annexed regions and formally reject NATO membership.
