On August 11, 2026, the NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence (STRATCOMCOE) released a new report examining how Russia maintains domestic support for its prolonged military campaign. The report argues that Russia's capacity to sustain public backing relies less on individual messages than on the communication system that converts uncertainty into perceived strategic coherence.
The report, titled "The System of Russian Propaganda," analyzes the mechanisms and structures that enable the Russian state to frame the war as necessary and inevitable. It highlights the role of state-controlled media, social media manipulation, and the suppression of dissenting voices in creating a unified narrative.
According to the report, the Russian communication system is designed to absorb and neutralize contradictory information, presenting a coherent picture to the domestic audience. This system, the report notes, is more resilient than any single propaganda message, as it adapts to changing circumstances while maintaining the core narrative.
The STRATCOMCOE, based in Riga, Latvia, is a NATO-accredited research and education institution focused on strategic communications. The report is part of the centre's ongoing efforts to understand and counter disinformation and propaganda.
