The Myth of the Mysterious Russian Soul: Expert Reveals Real Goal of the Kremlin

The Myth of the 'Mystery of the Russian Soul': A Strategic Success of Propaganda

Doctor of Sociology, Director of the Institute of Conflictology and Analysis of Russia Oleksandr Shulha noted that the Kremlin successfully maintains the myth of the 'mystery of the Russian soul' to paralyze the West's ability to respond. This myth creates the perception that Russia is impossible to understand or study, making it a large black box.

‘When you are told that your enemy is incomprehensible and this thought is instilled among the intellectual elites and policymakers in the West... This is already a huge victory for Russian propaganda.’

Shulha emphasized that this myth of mystery serves as the basis for other myths, such as the invincibility, resources, and monolithism of the Russian elites and population. He also pointed out that Russia actively tries to divide culture and civilization, ready to adopt Western technologies to improve quality of life but rejecting values such as human rights and democratic principles.

The Role of 'Good Russians' and Anti-Western Sentiments

Another dangerous myth propagated by the Kremlin is the claim that the Russian people are hostages of the Putin regime. Opposition Russians attempt to refute this claim, but 'good Russians' support this myth, seeing themselves as the only ones who can understand the inner world of the 'black box'.

‘Russia's sovereignty, according to Putin, is about building a GULAG and cooperating with the democratic world in the economy.’

Shulha also pointed out that Russian propaganda seeks to support anti-European sentiments to distort the perception of Russia as a significant other for the West. These sentiments may lay the groundwork for future aggression against Ukraine.

Constant propaganda and the undermining of real facts create a misleading perception of Russia and its people in the Western world, which can lead to serious consequences in international relations.