Day-to-Day Discourses of Russians About the War in Ukraine

Since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Western discourse has debated whether responsibility for the war lies solely with President Vladimir Putin and his inner circle or extends to broader Russian society. While early narratives framed the conflict as “Putin’s war,” growing evidence of public support for the invasion has raised questions about the role of state propaganda in shaping societal attitudes. This paper examines the relationship between propaganda and public opinion by analyzing interviews with ordinary Russian citizens. Drawing on positioning theory and critical discourse analysis, it identifies recurring rhetorical strategies—such as othering, legitimization, euphemization, denial, and appeals to collective identity—used to justify the war. The findings demonstrate that these narratives are not solely the product of contemporary propaganda but are rooted in longer-standing historical myths, power relations, and cultural frameworks embedded in Russian national identity. The study argues that propaganda functions symbiotically with existing societal predispositions, reinforcing state legitimacy while amplifying pre-existing beliefs. By highlighting the mechanisms through which war-related narratives are constructed, circulated, and internalized, the paper contributes to a deeper understanding of how public consensus around the invasion is maintained and why such justifications persist.