In the occupied territories of Luhansk and Donetsk regions, Russians are using all kinds of propaganda to influence the residents. One of the most effective kind of propaganda is art: what surrounds a person, what he has dealing with every day. Films and performances about the war with the heroization of the participants of the so-called "SVO", national and historical expositions in museums, paintings from Russian regions – are a propaganda culture created and spread by the occupiers.
The TRYBUN journalist has analyzed what cultural and artistic products the Russians distribute to the occupied Luhansk and Donetsk regions, what they propagandize and who can get under the control of the enemy
What is it shown in the cinema and theater in the occupation?
All films and performances Russians mostly dedicate to the so-called "SVO" and its participants. But they do not forget about the events of 2014-2015, which took place in Luhansk and Donetsk regions. They do this in order to justify their actions regarding the start of the war and the armed invasion of the territory of Ukraine.
About how the war in Donbas began, the combination of the war events of 2015 and the present day, Russia made a film "Call sign 'Passenger"
It was created in 2024 based on Oleksandr Prokhanov's novel "Murder of Cities". As producer Maksym Korolev notes, "We didn't understand what was happening there. We and you, in particular, the press, were interested in the fact that Mara Bahdasaryan is driving around Moscow on a Gelandewagen and all this heresy, while the genocide of the Russian population had already happened in the Donbas. And as the president says: "We didn't attack, they attacked us."
In this way, the authors tried to explain to the audience why it was necessary to start a "special operation".
A full of propaganda is a Leonard Svidovskov's film "Agony". During the story about the events of 2014 in Donbas, which took place before and after the so-called "Russian Spring", there is used successful for Russians video editing: scenes from the "Maidan", pro-Russian rallies, so-called "referendums", the fire in the Trade Unions House in Odesa on May 2, defense of Ukrainian forces.
The film contains such well-known propaganda narratives as: "Ukrainian forces shelled peaceful cities and civilians", "people's rights were restricted in Donbas", "the Ukrainian army against its fellow citizens", etc.
For example, the scene "for most of us, Ukrainian nationhood no longer existed." Disintegrated. Decayed. Self-destructed. Along with the first shot at civilians. With the announcement of the ATO. But in its dying convulsions, the Kyiv authorities sent tens of thousands tons of "shooting iron" at us, contains several pro-Russian messages that do not correspond to reality.
"Agony" is also a perfect example of rewriting history. Video snippets of Ukrainian politicians' speeches, confrontations, and actions are selected in such a way as to accuse Ukraine of war, to show the "desire" of the residents of Luhansk region to be "independent", the idea of joining the Russian Federation.
In the occupied Luhanshchyna, residents are periodically reminded of how the war began in 2014 in order to support propaganda and spread Russian ideas among the youth.
Therefore, for that purpose, the film "Agony" was shown to schoolchildren of gymnasium № 60 in Luhansk.
But the TV series "Reservists", filmed by the Russian team of enthusiasts "Terrykon Production", is dedicated to the participants of the so-called "SMO", namely to the mobilized.
The series shows the events of February 2022, when the mobilized from Donetsk went to storm Mariupol. The authors say that this is "a story about yesterday's civilians who did their duty without knowing how to shoot."
For now, only the premiere of the trailer has taken place. The release date of the TV series is unknown as the team is looking for a release platform.
Why is it beneficial for Russians to show the TV series "Reservists"? Because this is the embodiment of the propaganda message about the "support" of the residents of Luhansk and Donetsk regions for the war against Ukraine, "SVO", readiness to fight on the side of the Russian army. The "carry out duty" refer to is a demonstration of the so-called belonging of residents to Russia, in compliance with its "citizens" - the duty to defend the country's interests.
In particular, Russia shoots such films during the war in order to awaken in people the idealism of continuing to fight, to join the ranks of the army. A reality show is something that affects the emotions and actions of the viewer.
Performances in theaters in the occupied Luhansk region are also dedicated to modern events - the war. For example, in autumn the artists of the Luhansk Academic Drama Theater will present "Fugue in a minor".
The chief director informs that "in the new season there will be a premiere of a performance dedicated to the events of the SVO. Director Alexander Alexandrov with a dramatist and an actor Artem Malakhov took part in the Festival of Young Art in the Tavrida art cluster. In two weeks, they communicated with the participants of the SVO and wrote the play "Fugue in A minor" in the same spot. Now she is already rehearsing. In the near future, we will see this performance."
Propaganda of war and its components continues in the occupied territories. Perfomances, films and Tv series are simple and at the same time effective tools to convey the "necessary" thoughts and ideas to people of different age groups and interests.
What is exhibited in museums in the occupied territories?
After the occupation of the territory, Russia makes changes in all spheres. Museums are no exception, as it is not only a cultural institution that has a certain influence, but also a historical component.
Rewriting history, the occupiers combine it with Russian history, promoting the narrative of "we are the one nation." Therefore, the Sorokinsky and Saratov museums developed a joint "patriotic" project.
Enemy resource "Luhansk 24" explains that "the exhibition "Behind enemy lines" became part of it, devoted to the activities of the "Young Guard" in Krasnodon and the participation of Saratov residents in the partisan movement in the occupied territories of the USSR and Europe."
And the first deputy minister of culture of the Saratov region is sure that "the exhibition will be interesting to many visitors and will tell the young generation about those heroes, about whom the youth sometimes unjustifiably forget."
In the occupied Donetsk Museum of Local History, the situation is different. Here the occupiers are promoting Russian culture. In June, for Russia Day, it was opened an exhibition of porcelain dolls in national costumes of different regions of the Russian Federation.
In addition, souvenir plates were demonstrated, one of them - with the Ukrainian city of Berdiansk, and a "new" map of Russia, on which the occupied territories of Ukraine are marked.
In this way, the Russians are trying to introduce their cultural values on the territory of Luhansk and Donetsk regions and completely cut off everything related to Ukraine.
“With Russia together": pictures from Russians for Luhansk region.
Russia also promotes ideas about "unity" through the visual arts. 226 paintings by Krasnoyarsk artists on the theme "Siberia" were imported to the occupied Luhansk region.
The chairman of the board of the Krasnoyarsk regional organization "Union of Russia Artists" explained the transfer of the picture with participation in the "SVO fleshka" project.
"We cooperate with the Romanov Gallery, it was they who came up with this project "SVO fleshka". Our Krasnoyarsk organization decided to join this volunteer movement and donate a collection of our works to the Luhansk Art Museum. During the week, we collected 226 works of high professional museum level. There are different works by genre - genre paintings, landscapes, portraits. But there is only one topic - Siberia"
Cooperation with various regions of the Russian Federation, importing Russian creative products into the occupied territory are effective methods to expand the spheres of influence and destroy Ukrainian culture and heritage.
Therefore, Russian propaganda gets up steam in the temporarily occupied territories of Luhansk and Donetsk regions. Through art, it covers more spheres of influence. In this way, Russians promote their culture and "Russianize" the region.
Author: Yuliia Kanzeba
