Ukrainians describe the anti-war protest by Russian journalist Marina Ovchyanikova as staged[/B], on Channel 1 of Russian state television, and call it a strategic move in the context of Russian propaganda rhetoric.
Just a day after journalist Marina Ovchyanikova held an anti-war placard on Russia's Channel 1 (pictured, above), Ukraine questioned her motives. There were even allegations that the journalist had acted on purpose.
Praised by Zelensky
The day after the incident, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the journalist's initiative, which made headlines in the Western press.
On 14 March, the name Marina Ovsiankova became world famous. Her invasion with an anti-war poster on the Russian state channel Ena was followed by a wave of sympathy. The journalist told Reuters she did not feel like a hero.
"I am sure I did the right thing. I just wanted to tell people - don't be so zombie," she said."
She is not a heroine
However, the Center for Countering Disinformation in Ukraine maintains that Ovsyanikova is not a heroine, the Bulgarian website dnes reports.dir.
It believes that her appearance was a strategic move to remove the responsibility for the war from the people of Russia and transfer it only to Vladimir Putin.
They even point out her specific remark: "This aggression is in the consciousness of Vladimir Putin alone."
"Let's talk seriously."
Ukrainian MP Roman Hryshchuk, from the Servant of the People party of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, also believes that the televised protest was organized.
In a post on Twitter, he wrote that the largest caption on the poster was written in English - meaning the message was aimed at Western countries and ending sanctions against Russia.
"Okay, we need to seriously talk about this show on Russian TV."
"Marina Ovsyannikova (woman with placard) works at Channel One as an editor-in-chief."
"Marina Ovsyannikova (woman with placard) works at Channel One as an editor-in-chief. She is part of the Russian propaganda machine.
"In addition to this placard, Marina recorded a video. It sounds like a typical anti-war statement except for a few details.
"First, she says only Putin is responsible for the war. It's a false statement: most of Russian society supports Putin, the occupation and the war in Ukraine.
"Second. In the video he talks about "sister nations" of Russia and Ukraine. This is the basic narrative of Russian propaganda used to explain the occupation of Ukraine: "We are brothers and should live in one country."
"One more suspicious detail: the longer message on the sign is in English. Both sides of the war do not use English on a daily basis, so we can assume that the sign was aimed at a Western audience."
"Good Russians" and "Bad Russians"
"Why? I see a reason. Our allies' sanctions are strong and Russia's economy is dying. Sanctions relief is vital for Russia to continue the war and vital for the existence of Putin's regime. Thus....
"It is very likely that Russian propaganda has decided to put on this show to influence public opinion in the EU, the UK and the US. To slow down the sanctions and start talking about "good Russians" and "bad Russians."
"The truth is simple. Russia started the war. And we have to stop it. Here in Ukraine we are doing it with weapons. Our allies are doing it with sanctions and embargoes. Half-measures didn't work with Crimea, so we see that we have to push to the end.
"The people of Russia will suffer because of the decline of their economy. It is true. But the people of Ukraine are dying right now. The Russians are bombing our cities, killing our children. We have to do what we have to do. The Russians have had eight years to prevent escalation. They did nothing."
"So don't trust anything you see on Russian TV. Keep imposing sanctions, embargoes, stop business activities in Russia. Help us stop #GenocideOfUkrainians.
"Stay strong, stay united. And - finally - send those horrible jets!"
A girl with a poster saying "No to war" and "Don't believe in propaganda" suddenly appeared on the air of the propaganda channel "1", Ukraine's TV station 24 reports.
It turned out to be Marina Ovsyannikova, who had worked at the channel for many years and the "live protest" was a staged production, the Ukrainian TV station added in the news, citing a statement by Ukraine's deputy defense minister Hanna Malyar.
Strong sanctions from Western partners and guaranteed defeat in the war have forced the Russian occupiers to look for a way out. The main idea is to blame everything on Putin and try to convince the world that 'only he is to blame and all Russians are good'."
"Designed by the occupiers"
Hanna Malyar states that the Russians want to play on the emotions and compassion of Ukrainians. She warns that all these "anti-war" statements and actions in the Russian media are clearly designed by the occupiers.
"Anti-war rhetoric in the propaganda media of the occupiers: Ministry of Defense named the reason" reads the headline of the article of the Ukrainian TV station 24 about the protest of Marina Ovsiankova
In fact, the occupiers are shocked by the withdrawal of all international companies and sanctions, so they dream of creating the narrative of "Putin is all for it while the Russians are against the war" so that foreign business will return to them and sanctions will only apply to individuals.
Another goal of these special operations is to break the unity of Ukrainian society, the Ukrainian TV station concludes.
She is sincere, but...
Bulgarian analyst Petar Karaboev said that there is no doubt that Marina Ovsiankova's actions are sincere and not part of propaganda.
He attributes these reactions in Kiev to the strong hybrid war being waged in all directions.
"The disinformation coming from Russia is aimed at creating ambivalence, ambiguity. To make people doubt. To make people doubt the truth," Karaboev said.
In turn, he believes that the Russian state took advantage of the incident because of the events that followed, because the court only fined Ovsyanikova 30,000 rubles and not imprisonment.
"A cunning move by the agencies and the entire Russian system to downplay what happened," Karaboev said."
According to the analyst, it is difficult to say whether Ovsyanikova's intrusion into the TV airwaves was staged or not.
He is convinced that the winners and losers on the media front are clear. "Russia is losing this war," Karaboev concluded.
Source: in.gr
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