Core Claim and Its Purpose
Russia claims it has come to 'protect Russian speakers.' In reality, in occupied territories, it is Russian-speaking Ukrainians — teachers, volunteers, journalists, former ATO veterans, ordinary citizens — who face abductions, torture, extrajudicial killings, and deportations (OHCHR Reports Ukraine). The Kremlin does not ensure their safety. The 'protection' narrative serves as a cynical mask to justify aggression, control, and the destruction of Ukrainian identity.
Actual Cases of Repression
The claim of 'protecting Russian speakers' is contradicted by facts:
- Kherson and Zaporizhzhia: abductions and torture of teachers and volunteers, extrajudicial killings, deportation to Russia;
- Melitopol and Berdyansk: kidnapped volunteers who refused to cooperate with occupation authorities;
- Mariupol: journalists and activists who did not comply with Kremlin directives faced filtering and disappearance;
- Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch document torture and forced deportations (Amnesty 2024, HRW 2024).
Legally, these actions violate International Humanitarian Law and the Geneva Conventions (Articles 147, 148), as well as human rights standards (UDHR Articles 3, 5, 9).
Kremlin Hypocrisy
The 'protection' narrative hides the true objectives:
- Forced 'Russification' of schools and public life, confiscation of Ukrainian textbooks and materials (HRW 2024);
- Closure of cultural institutions and banning of Ukrainian literature;
- Persecution of Russian speakers who refuse to support the occupation — language does not protect; safety depends on loyalty to the Kremlin;
- Violation of ICCPR Article 27, protecting cultural rights and identity of national minorities (ICCPR, Art. 27).
Propaganda and Psychological Operations
- Fear and threats: occupied territories are portrayed as 'Russia is the protector, Ukraine is the oppressor,' justifying violence and occupation. This fear is reinforced through abductions and demonstrative repression (OHCHR Reports Ukraine).
- Repetition effect: media and Telegram channels daily broadcast the myth that 'Russians are oppressed,' solidifying a false sense of mass discrimination and creating cognitive dissonance.
- Emotional substitution for logic: the slogan 'We protect our own' implies that 'our own' are only those who comply with the occupation. Any independence or refusal to cooperate is labeled 'hostile.'
- Historical and pseudo-scientific rationalization: references to 'historical unity' or 'Russian language discrimination' are used, which are not confirmed by international observers or human rights organizations (HRW 2024), creating an illusion of legitimacy for aggression.
- Media manipulation and visual propaganda: staged 'polls,' charts, and 'expert assessments' are published, forming the appearance of mass support and legitimacy despite actual repression and abductions.
Why People Believe the Myth
Propaganda appeals to deeply rooted cultural and historical codes: 'Russia is the protector,' 'Russians are everywhere,' 'Ukraine is the lost part.' These stereotypes were instilled over decades through school programs, Soviet and post-Soviet media, films, and literature. After 2022, an aggressive information campaign reinforced them using modern psychological operations, including targeted social media and bots, creating cognitive resistance to facts.
Legal aspect: manipulations and false justifications are used to legitimize actions that violate International Humanitarian Law and ICCPR, Art. 27, hiding real repression behind the illusion of protection.
Factual Situation
- Occupied territories witness abductions, torture, extrajudicial killings, and forced deportations (OHCHR, HRW, Amnesty);
- The Kremlin bans Ukrainian language and cultural symbols while claiming to 'protect' Russian speakers — an obvious contradiction between rhetoric and action;
- All who refuse to obey occupation authorities are persecuted, regardless of language or origin;
- The objective is the destruction of Ukrainian statehood, cultural identity, and civil rights, qualifying as violations of Articles 147, 148 of the Geneva Conventions and ICCPR Article 27.
Conclusion
The narrative of 'protecting Russian speakers' is a propaganda mask that legitimizes repression, abductions, and torture. OHCHR, HRW, Amnesty, and OSINT investigations show that it is Russian-speaking Ukrainians who suffer for daring to remain independent. The Kremlin uses language as a tool of manipulation, creating an illusion of care, while systematically undermining civil identity and cultural autonomy of the Ukrainian population.
Main Sources and Materials
- OHCHR Reports Ukraine (2022–2025)
- HRW 2024: Ukraine
- Amnesty International 2024: Abductions and Torture
- OSINT investigations: Bellingcat and Conflict Intelligence Team
- EUvsDisinfo, Atlantic Council DFRLab
- International Humanitarian Law, Geneva Conventions (Articles 147, 148)
- ICCPR, Article 27
- UDHR, Articles 3, 5, 9
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.
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Last modified date: 25/11/2025