We where surprised to find rather long publication on the largest Finish newspaper SK website. But at the end, after finding English translation (below), we decided: why not to put it on our website as well. We disagree being ‘cold blooded Kremlin propaganda’, but we can’t force others to think otherwise.

Translation done with Deepl and found on Reddit

Russian propaganda now dominates video games: ‘Everything the Kremlin does is coldly calculated’

On the screen of the plane, Russian soldiers are approaching a building occupied by Ukrainians. The pair cross the road in front of the building and head towards a window at ground level, advancing under the cover of a light-coloured courtyard fence.

A Ukrainian soldier, marked in yellow, can be seen through the window. A grenade flies towards the Russians in the courtyard. The world stops, literally.

The scene is from a Youtube video showing the Russian video game Squad 22. The message of the game is downright propagandistic.

The game is set in the ‘events’ in Donbass between 2014 and 2022 and in a ‘special military operation’ between 2022 and 2024. By ‘special military operation’ is meant the illegal full-scale war of aggression launched by Russia against Ukraine.

While many other cultural products have been labelled in Russia as spreading Western rot, video games have met a different fate.

They provide an excellent platform for pro-Kremlin propaganda, as they are particularly popular among young people. This possibility has been recognised right up to the level of President Vladimir Putin. Over the past two years, the regime has shown a growing interest in the games industry. Investment, expansion of training programmes and exports of games have been discussed.

The video games market is forecast to grow to around €2.2-3.6 billion by 2030, according to a report by Strategy Partners.

The Kremlin is also making its propaganda available to young children, says Ian Garner, who has studied Russian youth, among others.

“The idea is to get children involved where they spend their time, on social media,” says Garner, an associate professor at the Pilecki Institute.

Another, more indirect way of spreading propaganda is among video gamers. “This is the kind of propaganda where friends talk to friends and family members talk to family members. You’re much more likely to believe what your peers are saying,” says Garner.

In many social relationships around gaming, though by no means even the majority, Garner says there is a culture of masculinity and glorification of violence. This is particularly evident in war games.

“These players represent the next generation that the Russian state would like to raise. Patriotic, young, straight men who are excited by war and the idea of war.”

African Dawn is another example of Russian propaganda being spread through video games.

The game is clearly aimed at a more international audience than Squad 22, and the Russian propaganda strikes you right from the start.

For example, you can lead the Russian-backed coalition of Sahel states, the ASCS, or the French- and US-backed Ecowas bloc. Ecowas refers to the West African Economic Community.

The game’s story begins in September 2022, when Ibrahim Traoré takes power in a military coup in Burkina Faso. The player can then use his own decisions to create an alternative future for the region.

According to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), African Dawn was sparked when Russian influencer and propagandist Grigory Korolev received a contact from Anna Zamarayeva, a member of the Wagner mercenary group. Zamarayeva tasked Korolev with creating a game in which a player would take the lead in a conflict in Africa’s Sahel region.

Zamarayeva has worked as an expert for the Russian African Initiative media, which spreads Kremlin propaganda in Africa. African Dawn is an example of a propaganda product whose creator is pro-Kremlin but which may not have been directly directed by Moscow.

“I would say that you can see some of these mods and games created by Kremlin supporters and zealous patriots. Propaganda is always more effective if it doesn’t look like it’s coming directly from the regime,” Garner says.

The Russian regime may also no longer have enough skilled creators to develop games for propaganda from scratch. The reason is that since the start of the full-scale war, young IT talent has also left Russia.

According to the Strategy Partners report, the Russian games scene has also seen a broader thematic shift. The report, published last year, shows an increase in national and nationalistic themes in games.

Themes and environments range from the chaotic events of 1612 in Smuta (Sekasorto in Finnish) to the horror of One-Eyed Likhoi, inspired by Russian folk tales. However, the quality in many places is not convincing.

“There have indeed been a lot of Russian games coming out recently. But most of them are terrible. They have bad graphics, meaningless game mechanics and a huge number of bugs that make playing a misery. Yet they cost as much on Steam as quality foreign games,” a teenage gamer from St Petersburg tells HS.

“Militarisation is becoming increasingly important in Russia, and the goal of current state policy is to militarise all aspects of everyday life. The aim is to make the armed forces a part of everyone’s everyday life. It is seen in schools, universities, workplaces and the media.”

However, Garner says the games can also provide a channel for the Russian opposition to spread its message.

“At least so far, video games are relatively little regulated in Russia. And while young people are now bombarded with militaristic propaganda, the opposition has the opportunity to participate in the development of games and reach out to players in the digital environment.”

We are now seeing a similar turnaround in video games as we saw in the early 2010s with rap and hip-hop music. At the time, the Russian regime realised that instead of banning music, it would be better to support artists sympathetic to the regime.

“We started to support artists who are more patriotic, easier to digest, and who increase people’s pride in their country and their Russian-ness.”

“Everything the Kremlin does is coldly calculated. Even when it comes to youth culture,” says Garner.

The games are part of a wider phenomenon of so-called militainment, where entertainment is mixed with the glorification and celebration of the armed forces.

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)