Russia has long used video games to widely disseminate anti-Western messages. Video games and related community platforms such as Steam and Discord are particularly appealing to younger generations, making them easily accessible to Kremlin-driven propaganda. The Kremlin is using this opportunity to try to legitimize the war in Ukraine.

Russian users have reconstructed virtual versions of historical events in various games, often with strong propaganda overtones. For example, in January 2023, Russian players re-enacted the siege of Soledar, which was captured by the Russian army at the time, in Minecraft. In another case, a virtual concert was held on a national holiday under the direction of a Russian government official.

In Roblox, a user held a military parade with the forces of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs to celebrate Russia Day. Meanwhile, in World of Tanks, the Soviet tanks’ parade in Moscow was recreated to commemorate the anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany. The Kremlin frequently uses the Soviet victory to justify the war in Ukraine, and this narrative has appeared in numerous other games, such as the Russian versions of World of Warships, Fly Corp, Armored Warfare, and War Thunder.

Russian propaganda is not only spreading in Western countries but has also reached Africa, which, according to the World Economic Forum, is currently the fastest-growing segment of the video game market, particularly in mobile gaming. Africa’s demographic situation makes this market especially attractive, as the proportion of young people from Generations X and Z on the continent far exceeds that of youth in the United States and China. For the Russians, this is an excellent opportunity to conquer new markets and spread their propaganda.

Source: 444.hu