Russian Pro-War Video Critiques Dissent Among Armchair Patriots

Russian pro-war bloggers have circulated a video criticizing so-called «armchair patriots» who are against peace talks with Ukraine, according to the investigative news outlet Agentstvo.

In this brief video, a married couple in their kitchen express their frustrations about the Russian military’s inability to seize key Ukrainian cities. The wife hints at a «deal» that she believes is obstructing the progress on the battlefield.

The husband then posts an angry comment online, prompting a shift to a Russian soldier in a trench who reads his comment. A female combat medic nearby reassures the soldier that “an agreement will be reached, and we will reunite with our families.”

The scene abruptly transitions to an incoming shell hitting the trench, followed by a shot of the soldier’s phone, which shows a text message from his daughter wishing him a happy Defenders of the Fatherland Day, celebrated on February 23.

The video, whose creators remain unidentified, sharply contrasts with previous state-sponsored propaganda campaigns, including popular clips created by the Kremlin-backed broadcaster RT that encouraged Russia’s military efforts. This latest video has been shared by several pro-war Telegram channels with large followings.

Agentstvo reported that they recognized three of the participants in the video, all of whom had appeared in Russian TV shows and commercials before. One of the actresses refused to disclose any information about the video’s production or the identities of those behind it.

While the creators of this video are still unknown, RT acknowledged last year that it had produced a different series of polished pro-war videos that were widely circulated by military bloggers. These clips promoted Russian military service and ridiculed Ukraine and its Western allies.

Last month, Agentstvo revealed that the production team responsible for the pro-war videos received state honors from Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.

This latest video emerged shortly after U.S. and Russian officials engaged in their first direct talks since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, where delegates from both sides maintained a positive outlook while minimizing expectations of an immediate breakthrough in peace discussions regarding Ukraine.