As part of the program Regional Initiative for combating disinformation “Western Balkans Combatting disinformation Center: Exposing malicious influences through fact-checking and Analytical Journalism“, we present you a new analysis of fake news and disinformation narratives.
A lie as salvation for the West: Kosachev on the attempt to distort the world and persuade about the Russian threat
In a text published by Sputnik, Russian official Konstantin Kosachev levels a series of accusations against NATO politicians and analysts, claiming that they engage in “reshaping information” and inventing an image of a Russian threat. Already in the opening lines, it is clear that this is a narrative aimed at delegitimizing Western positions on Russian aggression and weakening the international consensus on the security risks posed by Russian policy. According to Sputnik, Kosachev accuses the West of “distorting the picture of the world,” insisting that, in their perception, Russia is the main predator while the West allegedly portrays itself as a “flowering garden.” Such formulations, taken from his post on Telegram, are part of a familiar Russian propaganda repertoire: simplification, caricature, and shifting blame.
Kosachev also claims that the West is inventing “patterns” of Russian aggression, mocking Western assessments by saying that they allegedly claim Russia wants to “conquer the Baltic states, Eastern Europe, and then all of Europe.” This exaggeration has one clear purpose — to portray Western warnings as senseless and overblown, even though those warnings are grounded in Russia’s real actions over the past decade: from the annexation of Crimea and the war in Ukraine to numerous cyberattacks, sabotage operations, and the destabilization of neighboring states. In this context, even the statement by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, which Sputnik also cites, loses its meaning, as it is framed as evidence of Western aggressiveness rather than as a realistic assessment of Europe’s security situation.
Sputnik also relays statements by Russian political analyst Nikita Mendkovich, who repeats the central narrative of Russian state media — that the “collective West” is allegedly fomenting ethnic and religious conflicts in Russia to weaken it. He claims that the U.S. Congress discussed the idea of dismantling Russia and that the West is financing “separatist and extremist movements.” Sputnik reports these claims without any evidence, a typical technique of Russian media: using accusations that sound serious but are not based on any credible source.
Mendkovich also cites historical examples of colonial policy, mentioning Great Britain in India or the breakup of Yugoslavia, in an attempt to prove that the West supposedly still uses the same methods today. This approach is selective and deliberately simplified: historical examples are chosen and interpreted to reinforce a pre-determined thesis. It is important to emphasize that Western states today do not pursue a policy of colonial domination but rather advocate international norms, peaceful conflict resolution, and respect for human rights. It is precisely because of these principles that the European Union and NATO criticize Russia — not because they want to break it apart, but because Russia’s actions undermine regional stability and represent a threat to European security.
In conclusion, Mendkovich claims that Russia is responding by strengthening “internal unity,” which in practice amounts to tightening internal control and reducing space for criticism. Sputnik presents these statements as a rational and patriotic response to external threats, while the true purpose of such narratives is to homogenize the public and divert attention from Russia’s real problems — economic stagnation, lack of media freedom, political repression, and international isolation.
Thus, both Sputnik texts function as part of the same, well-known propaganda framework: the West is portrayed as the aggressor, Russia as the victim, and complex international relations are reduced to a conspiracy theory. The goal is to erode trust in the West and justify Russia’s foreign and domestic policies.
Author: Nataša Stanojević
