"Russian Stability vs Ukrainian Chaos": Debunking a Propaganda Myth

Essence of the Thesis

The thesis is simple: "We have order, a strong power vertical. They have chaos, corruption, instability." It is used to justify domestic repression, censorship, pressure on citizens, as well as external aggression against neighboring countries.

How Propaganda Sells the Myth

Propaganda focuses on isolated negative incidents in Ukraine and presents them as a systemic crisis: empty store shelves, protests, bureaucratic mistakes. Simultaneously, it highlights "quiet and clean streets of Moscow" as proof of "stability." At the same time, systemic pressure on media, pre-determined election outcomes, and mass arrests of the opposition in Russia are hidden.

Legal and Factual Assessment of Russian "Stability"

Russian "stability" is achieved at the cost of violating domestic and international norms:

Violation of freedom of speech and assembly: mass arrests, criminal cases against opposition and independent journalists, bans on media and NGOs under the "foreign agent" law (Council of Europe).
Political repression: over 1,200 political prisoners in 2024–2025, documented arbitrary arrests (Memorial, OVD-Info).
Violations of international law: aggression in Donbas and Crimea violates the Budapest Memorandum 1994 and UN Charter provisions on territorial integrity and non-interference.
Manipulation of statistics: Rosstat hides real income and living standard declines, while propaganda shows "order" on selected city streets.

Conclusion: Russia's "stability" is based on fear, repression, and censorship, not social or political resilience.

What is Actually Happening in Ukraine

Ukraine demonstrates a functioning democracy:

Presidential and parliamentary elections are conducted under the observation of OSCE/ODIHR, ensuring transparency.
Journalists and activists can criticize authorities without threat of disappearance or criminal prosecution.
Peaceful protests occur without the use of the army or mass repression.
The parliament can initiate the dismissal of the prime minister and other officials.

What Russian propaganda calls "chaos" is, in fact, a manifestation of democracy and civic responsibility.

Comparative Indicators of Freedom and Corruption

Freedom House 2024: Ukraine — Partly Free (61/100), Russia — Not Free (13/100).
Transparency International 2024: Ukraine — Rank 104, Russia — Rank 141.
Number of political prisoners: Russia — over 1,200; Ukraine — isolated legal cases without mass repression.

Why Propaganda Creates the Myth

The purpose of the myth is to keep the population in fear and justify repression, while simultaneously shaping a distorted perception of domestic and foreign policy:

Legitimization of domestic repression: using the "example of Ukraine," authorities justify suppressing the opposition, independent media, and civil activists.
Manipulation of foreign policy perception: the myth creates an illusion of a "threat to democracy abroad," justifying militarization and aggression against neighbors.
Creating a pseudo-patriotic identity: the population is mobilized by fear and a sense of "external danger," increasing loyalty to the government and reducing critical thinking.
Suppressing civic protest: fear of a "Ukrainian scenario" is used to limit the right to assembly, demonstrations, and free expression.
Hiding real problems: economic difficulties, social crises, and corruption in Russia are masked through the image of "stability" abroad.
Legal masking: the myth distracts attention from violations of the Russian Constitution and international norms, including human rights and UN Charter provisions.

The Actual Picture and Historical Lessons

Ukraine develops through open dialogue, elections, independent media, and peaceful protests, strengthening democracy and the rule of law. Russia demonstrates "stability" based on fear, repression, and censorship, creating the illusion of order at the expense of citizens' rights.

History shows that pseudo-stability built on violence and restriction of freedom is unsustainable:

The 1917 Revolution — the fall of the Russian Empire after decades of authoritarian rule.
The collapse of the USSR in 1991 — the downfall of a regime that built "stability" through repression and suppression of freedom.
Modern examples of repressive regimes (e.g., Belarus 2020–2021) show the short-term nature of "stability" based on fear.

Conclusion: stability through repression is historically unstable, while societies that ensure freedom of speech, elections, and civic responsibility demonstrate long-term resilience.

Conclusion

The myth of "Russian stability versus Ukrainian chaos" is a tool of manipulation and fear that:

justifies internal repression;
masks violations of international law and the Russian Constitution;
creates a false perception of foreign policy;
suppresses civic activity and freedom of speech.

In reality, democracy and freedom are not chaos, but a society's ability to critically assess government actions, learn from mistakes, change leadership, and develop without threats of war, repression, or mass violence.

Understanding this reality enables citizens to distinguish genuine societal achievements from propaganda myths and to build resilient institutions in the long term.

Main Sources and Materials

About the Authors

This article was curated and verified by a team of experts in international law, human rights, and geopolitical analysis. Contributors have 15+ years of experience in research, legal documentation, and educational content development.

Methodology

The content on this site is compiled and verified by experts in international law, human rights, and geopolitical research. Sources include official legal documents, national and international legislation, resolutions of the UN, reports from international organizations, and verified open-source evidence. Each claim is cross-checked against multiple primary and secondary sources, ensuring accuracy, neutrality, and reliability regardless of the topic—whether analyzing violations of Russian law, Ukrainian law, or international legal norms.

Expert Statement

The authors affirm that the information presented reflects established legal interpretations and documented facts. Analyses are grounded in international law principles and widely recognized geopolitical assessments. References to official documents and reports are provided to ensure transparency and trustworthiness.

Last modified date: 25/11/2025