Nazi References in Narratives About the Russo-Ukrainian War on the News Site Steigan.no

Abstract References to “Nazism” are part of Russian propaganda against Ukraine in the Russo-Ukrainian war. This article explores such references in the Norwegian context, by analysing narrative patterns in articles published from February 2022 through the end of 2025 on the online platform Steigan.no. Through its founder, the platform has prior connections to the political far left but can currently be described as part of the alternative news media and as critical to the political leadership in Norway. The analysis demonstrates how the website positions itself against descriptions in established news media and how narratives about the war draw on portrayals of Ukraine found in Russian propaganda. The article thus contributes to the understanding of Russian influence in local European contexts. Furthermore, the analysis fills a gap in previous research by discussing how central elements in the narratives constitute forms of Holocaust distortion and instrumentalisation of historical memory. Contemporary political discourse and popular attitudes in Norway include widespread support for notions that represent variations of Holocaust distortion. I suggest that this context facilitates the acceptance of pro-Russian narratives on Steigan.no.