WORLD IN DEPTH

Desperate Putin portrays Ukraine and the West as ‘satanic’

Russia’s depiction of its foes is said to be acquiring not only a military, economic and political character, but also a religious and metaphysical one, Marc Bennetts reports

President Putin was once a KGB officer in the officially atheist Soviet Union, but is increasingly seeking to portray himself as a defender of Christian values
President Putin was once a KGB officer in the officially atheist Soviet Union, but is increasingly seeking to portray himself as a defender of Christian values
ALEXANDER ZEMLIANICHENKO/AP
Marc Bennetts
The Times

From imperialists to evil capitalists, Kremlin propaganda has had many names over the decades for western countries. Now with the Russian army on the run in Ukraine, President Putin has a new slur: Satanists.

Although Putin was once a KGB officer in the officially atheist Soviet Union, he is increasingly seeking to portray himself as a staunch defender of Christian values against what he depicts as the demonic and degenerate West.

During a recent speech at the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow, Putin lashed out against the “outright Satanism” that he alleged was being promoted by American and European leaders. His face distorted with rage, the Russian leader described the war in Ukraine as an existential struggle for humanity’s collective soul.

“Glory to the heroes of Russia” proclaims the poster, but few are finding glory on the battlefields of Ukraine
“Glory to the heroes of Russia” proclaims the poster, but few are finding glory on the battlefields of Ukraine
YURI KADOBNOV/AFP/GETTY IMAGES
Security has been increased throughout Russia, not least in Moscow’s Red Square
Security has been increased throughout Russia, not least in Moscow’s Red Square
ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

Putin claimed that the