“Propaganda Is Extremely Important”: Putin Backs Drone TV Show Fronted by Controversial Comedian

Russian actor and television host Mikhail Galustyan presented a new drone-warfare game show, “Battle of Drones,” to Russian leader Vladimir Putin at a Moscow forum on July 13, according to the Russian state news agency TASS.

“The ‘Battle of Drones’ show, which we came up with, is an opportunity to open up this subject, to make it understandable, interesting and popular,” Galustyan told Putin, as quoted by TASS.

He described plans to film the show in what he called the country’s most beautiful locations. Participants in Russia’s war against Ukraine, students, bloggers, and celebrities would take part together, he added, calling it an opportunity for anyone to demonstrate their skills.

Putin responded briefly, telling the presenter, "Good luck. Propaganda is an extremely important thing," according to TASS.

The exchange took place at the “Everything for Victory!” forum, which Putin attended on July 13.

No broadcaster or air date for “Battle of Drones” was disclosed at the forum.

Galustyan’s role in pitching the drone show follows a long record of performances criticized for ethnic caricatures and public support for Kremlin policies.

In the sketch comedy series Nasha Russia (2006–2011), Galustyan played Ravshan, a Tajik migrant construction worker portrayed as poorly educated, incompetent, and speaking broken Russian.

Ravshan and his partner, Dzhamshut, became widely recognized as stereotypes of Central Asian migrant workers. Tajik migrant organizations complained to Russian prosecutors and media regulators, arguing that the sketches promoted ethnic hostility.

Academic research has also cited the characters as prominent examples of racist and anti-Tajik representation in Russian popular culture.

Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence (HUR) lists Galustyan in its War & Sanctions database, which describes him as a Kremlin propagandist who systematically supports Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, the occupation of Crimea, Putin’s policies, and the Russian regime.

The database notes that he joined a 2014 campaign selling shirts featuring Putin and the phrase “Greetings from Crimea.” It also records a post published after the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 in which Galustyan referred to an alleged “civil war in Ukraine” and blamed the Maidan protests on “overseas sponsors.”

The database also identifies Galustyan as president of the Federation of Military Tactical Games. It says the organization helped establish a training ground used to prepare volunteers who signed contracts with Russia’s Defense Ministry for deployment in the war against Ukraine.

Galustyan has not taken part in combat operations. His involvement has been limited to public advocacy, propaganda projects, and initiatives linked to Russia’s military and defense establishment.

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