Russian propaganda's unexpected favorite target country

Guess which European country is favored most by Russian propaganda. Surprisingly, it's not Ukraine, currently grappling with aggression, nor Russia's ally Poland. Neither the Baltic States nor Finland, which has stood up to Vladimir Putin, are on the radar. Moscow has also moved from its focus on Germany and France, and has set its sights on a country no one anticipated. This curious shift paints a telling picture about Russia.

Many reports circulated by Russian media outlets and official representatives frequently contain inaccuracies. Such content could be part of a larger information war waged by the Russian Federation.

Which country features most prominently on Russian television and bears the brunt of Russian propaganda? The answer is Ukraine, given the ongoing conflict there. However, excluding Kyiv, the Russians have identified an unexpected adversary. It's not Poland, the Baltic States, or the traditional European heavyweights such as France and Germany.

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Moscow's ambitions and goals reach far beyond local rivals, fostering a belief that the "second strongest army in the world" can dominate Europe. This has become a standard narrative in Russia today, one fostered by the idea that the more facts contradict the Kremlin-crafted story, the better. This serves to fuel the nation's powerfully controlled message.

Vladimir Solovyov and his propagandists have unexpectedly focused their attacks on Portugal.

Russians confidently dream of an empire stretched from Kamchatka, via Moscow, all the way to Lisbon. Portugal's capital often features in their broadcasts—an unexpected, if not laughable, target considering the Russian military's recent struggles in Bachmut and around Avdiivka.

How can Russia feasibly march to Lisbon? Through Warsaw, Berlin, Paris, and Madrid en route?

Portugal has become a recurring target on Rossija-1, Russia's state television channel, with an average viewership of over 117 million people. The audience is encouraged to believe that Putin's army is capable of conquering the entirety of Europe. The primary propagandists include: Vladimir Solovyov, Olga Skabajewa, and Margarita Simonyan.

"If we have to seize Lisbon, we can do it," Solovyov boasts.

No one denies that such claims are fantastical and would undoubtedly spark a global conflict.

Russians prefer to believe that their nation is the world's premier power, and that it always fights for just causes. They resist the notion that life may exist differently elsewhere. Whether in Kyiv, Berlin, Madrid, or Lisbon, the spirit of the USSR's era of establishing peace everywhere still lingers.

However, Europe has resisted Moscow's influence for decades and will continue to do so. Moscow's emissaries, who couple their messages with force and refuse to back down (much like a century ago), have now chosen Lisbon as their target. How the authorities in Portugal and NATO (which was founded to thwart Russian ambitions) grappling with this development remains to be seen.

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