Media plays a major role in any leader’s rule, whether it be to disperse beliefs, persuade the population, or speak directly to the people. Putin has created and controlled a state-run media machine, he is able to spread any information he needs. This machine has proven to be one of the most important tools during the invasion of Ukraine, spreading Kremlin propaganda to anyone watching, listening, or reading. This propaganda machine is incredibly effective, as a majority of viewers for state-run programs are more likely to support the war, as seen in London Politica’s ‘Demographics of War’ project. 

Originally, state-run media was incredibly effective at displaying and spreading the word of Putin. However, given how protestors and journalists have been treated, expression has become confusing. In one recent clip, a journalist said he could not state anything on Russian forces withdrawing from Kherson, as if he stated it was either correct or incorrect, he would be breaking Russian law.

Independent news outlets have been shutting down across the country by the Russian government for the past few years. The reasoning behind the government forcing media outlets to shut down varies from the new ‘Foreign Agent’ label to just failing to provide documents. Being labeled as such leads to a loss of sponsorships, partners, etc. Something more news publications want to avoid.. The‘Foreign Agent’ label has been handed out to people and organizations, for example, it was given to VTimes, an independent media outlet, in 2021.  It slowly lost advertisers, funding, and staff members, leading to its demise. Novaya Gazeta, another independent outlet, was shut down in September of this year, for failing to provide documents to the government decades ago.

Putin has effectively diminished independent news outlets, which he thought would lead to people watching state television. However, many Russian citizens, especially younger ones, have turned to social media. The government has blocked access to many social sites, however, people have been using VPNs to get around the blocks. Social media has also been used to display what many Russian people truly think of the war, such as the anti-mobilization protests. As a result, Putin has been unable to effectively exert complete control over the media and internet.