War in a society of spectators
Journal: Psychotherapy and Politics International
Year: 2022

Russian society’s perception of the invasion of Ukraine is strikingly incompatible with the actual events. This article reflects on the surreal representation of Ukrainian war in Russian media and its powerful grip on a large part of the nation. Socialised in a universe of propaganda and conspiracy theories, the Russian citizenry appears simultaneously cynical and gullible, and above all highly receptive to Kremlin’s manipulations. Succumbing to this conspiratorial universe of meaning alters one