Russian propaganda is no longer just about convincing large audiences of a particular message. In conversation with Anna Rennéus Guthrie, Director of Stockholm Free World Forum, Ukrainian writer, translator and humanities communicator Ostap Ukrainets explains how modern propaganda increasingly targets smaller audiences who are likely to absorb, adapt and spread narratives themselves. Since 2024, Ukrainets has served in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, working with cognitive security and cultural education.
They discuss Russia’s use of participatory propaganda, the role of culture and children’s entertainment, and how seemingly harmless content can shape attitudes over time. Ukrainets also explores a deeper value he sees in Russian propaganda: an adolescent narcissism in which being denied what you want is treated as justification for doing whatever it takes to get it.
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