The Kremlin’s Utilization of War-Themed Comics to Shape Youth Perspectives on the Conflict in Ukraine
In the aftermath of the invasion of Ukraine, a shift in sentiment among young Russians emerged, with many expressing disapproval of the war, according to a poll conducted by the Russian state pollster.
In response, the Kremlin appears to be actively working to sway this perception.
In April, the Russian defense and education ministries initiated the distribution of tens of thousands of war-themed comic books, lauding the invasion of Ukraine, to schools throughout Russia and Ukraine’s Russia-occupied territories. The stated objective, as outlined on the project’s official website, is to ensure that every school under Russian control receives these materials.
Comprising 22 short stories honoring Russian servicemen for their actions in the conflict, the comics propagate the Kremlin’s narrative that Russia’s intervention in Ukraine in February 2022 thwarted a purported “genocide” orchestrated by Kyiv authorities with the support of NATO countries.
Among the featured characters is Col-Gen Azatbek Omurbekov, the commanding officer implicated in the killing of civilians in Bucha, Ukraine, in 2022. Depicted as a heroic figure, the comic portrays Omurbekov and his troops as exemplars of “humanity” during the early stages of the conflict, despite documented accusations of torture and killing of Ukrainian prisoners of war by Russian forces, as reported by major human rights organizations.
Penned by Oleg Roy, a well-known Russian children’s author and vocal war advocate, these comics echo the Kremlin’s anti-Western, anti-NATO, and anti-Ukrainian rhetoric. Drawing on themes of patriotism and vilification of perceived adversaries, Roy’s work aligns with Kremlin-backed narratives aimed at fostering a particular worldview among Russian youth.
Previously acclaimed for his series of patriotic “Russian superheroes,” which received praise from Kremlin-affiliated media as Russia’s response to major Western comic franchises, Roy continues to serve as a conduit for the dissemination of state-sanctioned propaganda.