Four Key Instruments of Russian Propaganda: Dismiss, Distort, Distract, Dismay

The world is only now confronting information warfare, but Russian propaganda has been refining it for decades. The term “disinformation” itself is a product of propaganda, deliberately crafted by Joseph Stalin to sound French, giving the practice a Western origin rather than tying it to the Soviet Union. This clever linguistic maneuver was just the start of a calculated strategy to weaponize falsehoods.

Nowadays, Russia uses a kind of 4 pronged strategy, coined by disinformation expert Ben Nimmo, designed to influence, confuse, and control public perception: dismiss, distort, distract, dismay. Much like the “active measures” tactics employed by the KGB during the Cold War, these instruments are aimed at influencing events, undermining adversaries, and shaping public opinion.

The best way to arm oneself against them is to understand them. In this article, we dissect the common methods used to manipulate perception.

1. Dismiss: Delegitimizing the opposition

A cornerstone of Russian propaganda is the strategy of dismissal, which seeks to delegitimize critics and undermine their credibility. You know the old argument that if you say something enough times, it becomes true? It’s that one.

This tactic often involves labeling opposing voices as “Western puppets,” “Russophobic,” or agents of a “global conspiracy.” By framing dissenters as biased or illegitimate, the Kremlin shifts the focus from the validity of their arguments to their supposed ulterior motives. It essentially uses “whataboutism” to deflect accusations back onto the accuser. For example in one interview between Vladamir Putin and NBC’s Keir Simmons just before the full-scale invasion, Simmons asks the Russian leader about unfair elections within Russia. Instead of addressing the question, Putin deflects by employing the tactic of “whataboutism,” pointing to the discord surrounding the 2020 US election and launching into a lengthy tangent on the subject.This approach discredits independent journalists, human rights organizations, and even entire governments that challenge Russia’s actions, effectively stifling dissent and creating an echo chamber for state-approved narratives.

Another way it achieves this is by preying on cultural sensitivities. For instance, it portrays the “woke” West as determined to erase Russia’s core conservative values. By delegitimizing Western voices that demand accountability for Russia’s war crimes, the propaganda fosters skepticism, leading many to dismiss the entire Western narrative as false from the outset.

2. Distort: Twisting the truth

The tactic of distortion is central to Russian propaganda, leveraging half-truths and misinformation to obscure reality. For example, events like the invasion of Ukraine are framed not as acts of aggression but as “special military operations” aimed at “denazification” or “liberation.” By selectively presenting facts or outright fabricating narratives, the Kremlin crafts a version of events that aligns with its agenda. This strategy sows confusion, as audiences struggle to discern fact from fiction in a sea of manipulated information.

As the adage goes, “the appearance of impropriety is impropriety,” and Russia adeptly manipulates this principle. It takes a sliver of truth and magnifies it into a justification for its broader agenda. This tactic was evident in its claims about NATO, portraying the alliance’s expansion as a direct threat to Russian security. However, the recent accession of Finland to NATO—despite sharing a border with Russia—has not elicited the same aggressive response. In fact Russia’s aggression in Ukraine is what prompted countries like Sweden and Finland to join NATO where the otherwise may not have. Similarly in the case of Ukraine, public support for joining the alliance increased dramatically only after 2014 when Russia launched its initial incursion onto Ukrainian soil. Nevertheless, those swayed by propaganda often cite NATO expansion to shift blame onto Ukraine and the West, perpetuating a narrative that excuses Russia from accountability.

3. Distract: Flooding the information space

To avoid accountability and divert attention from its actions, Russian propaganda employs distraction by flooding the information space with irrelevant or sensational content. This approach overwhelms audiences with a barrage of conflicting messages, conspiracy theories, and trivial news. The sheer volume of information dilutes the impact of critical reporting and shifts public focus away from Russia’s culpability. For example, American influencer Ben Swann, financially backed by the Kremlin, created a 12-part series aimed at discrediting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and casting doubt on Ukraine’s role in the war. This series diverted attention from Russia’s actions and aligned with Moscow’s broader propaganda strategy to sway public opinion in its favor. By amplifying anti-Ukraine rhetoric, it sought to undermine Western support for Ukraine.

Russia’s use of bots is a key element in its strategy to cloud the information space and distract from critical issues. Russian propaganda often relies on well-organized bot farms like the Internet Research Agency (IRA), which orchestrate divisive stunts to sow discord. In 2016, the IRA manipulated Facebook to organize both anti-Muslim and pro-Muslim protests at the same time and location in Houston, Texas, pitting opposing groups against each other.

These bots, often operating on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, generate large volumes of posts to amplify pro-Kremlin narratives, spread misinformation, and create confusion. They are identifiable by certain patterns, such as generic profile pictures, usernames with random numbers, and repetitive posting of identical or similar content across multiple platforms. Bots frequently target specific topics, such as blaming NATO for the war in Ukraine or sowing distrust in Western democracies. By saturating online discussions with their coordinated messaging, bots drown out legitimate voices, making it harder for users to distinguish real opinions from manufactured propaganda. This overwhelming presence not only distracts audiences but also gives the false impression of widespread support for Russia’s narratives, further polarizing public discourse.

4. Dismay: Sowing Fear and Hopelessness

Finally, the strategy of dismay seeks to demoralize and destabilize target audiences. Russian propaganda aims to create a sense of futility among opposition and inevitability about its dominance through exaggerated claims and fear-mongering. It pushes narratives that emphasize the chaos of opposition movements and discourages collective action.

Take for example Anna Bazhutova, a 31-year-old Russian blogger who was sentenced to five and a half years in prison for sharing witness accounts about her country’s atrocities in Bucha, Kyiv region, known as the Bucha massacre. Her crime? Spreading “falsities” about the Russian army—a law that came into effect only since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Over 1,000 people have been prosecuted for speaking out against Russia’s war, according to human rights groups. This shows how the Kremlin uses intimidation to crack down on dissent.

Another notable instance of the Kremlin’s strategy to suppress dissent and instill fear is Russian journalist Maria Ponomarenko. Ponomarenko was sentenced to six years in prison for her reporting which was considered by officials as anti-war. A journalist from Siberia, she was convicted of spreading false information about the Russian military after accusing the Russian air force of bombing a theatre in Mariupol.

The severe sentences of Bazhutova and Ponomarenko are just a few out of a sea of cases in which the Russian government has employed intimidation and harsh legal measures to silence the press. By cracking down on oppositional voices, Russia fosters a climate of fear and hopelessness among those who might challenge its narratives.

Countering the propaganda playbook

The effectiveness of Russian propaganda lies in its integration of these four strategies—dismiss, distort, distract, and dismay. Together, these instruments form a powerful tool for manipulating perceptions and undermining democratic values. Understanding these tactics is the first step in countering their influence. Governments, media organizations, and individuals must remain vigilant, promoting transparency, critical thinking, and fact-based reporting to combat the Kremlin’s disinformation machine. In an era where information is a weapon, awareness and resilience are the ultimate defenses.