Pravda is the Russian word for truth. Sadly, the Russian people now do not hear truth about Vladimir Putin’s senseless invasion of Ukraine. Reportedly, only four per cent of Russians reject his lies about Russian soldiers “on a military exercise” to save Ukrainians from a “neo-Fascist” government led by Volodymyr Zelenskyy. As long as Putin enjoys such massive support, his unprovoked aggression can continue.
Western democracies want to stop the terrible destruction of Ukraine but are frustrated. Their leaders have correctly determined that direct military intervention might trigger a horrendous World War III, a catastrophe incredibly worse than the present Russian assault. Given these realities, the democratic world seems unable to prevent the destruction of Ukraine by Russian artillery and bombs.
There may, however, be another option involving a truly novel undertaking. This option rests on the reasonable premise that if the Russian people knew the truth, they would force an end to the carnage .
With both independent media and social media suppressed, it is time to undertake a massive distribution of honest information. In the absence of other options, it is time to bring truth to the Russian masses in unconventional ways. If done in a massive manner, this would surely turn most Russians against Putin and his relentless carnage in Ukraine.
Western governments, led by the U.S., should flood Russia’s major cities with perhaps 40 million copies of a 20-page glossy booklet graphically depicting stark truth. At least 10 pages should show the horrendous destruction of residences, schools, hospitals, and other civilian targets.
There should be emotion-triggering pictures of an injured pregnant woman carried out on a stretcher, bloodied old people hobbling along destroyed streets, children crying, wounded people in agony, incredible throngs of refugees, and mangled bodies tossed into long trenches. The horrible reality, with maps, must be shown.
Russians would also discover that Zelenskyy was elected with 73 per cent of the vote in 2019 and that Ukraine was a stable democracy before the unprovoked Russian attack.
Several pages should describe the aggression with casualty number. There should be statements from world leaders, heads of neutral governments, the Pope, the Dalai Lama, UN leaders, and testimonies of captured Russian soldiers. Experts would have no difficulty compiling a disillusioning case.
The cost, at perhaps $5 per copy, could reach $200 million, plus delivery costs, a lot less than present military aid. Because of the need to get the copies printed quickly, presses could print in several lands.
Would the Russians believe such a deluge of pravda to counter Putin’s propaganda?
They are hurting and perplexed. Why have hundreds of international companies suddenly left Russia? Why are millions of Russians suddenly losing their jobs? Why is inflation suddenly rampant? Why has the ruble suddenly become almost worthless internationally?
Why has Putin muzzled independent media? Why has he suddenly become a global pariah? Why are so many body bags coming home to Russian families? Russians would discover why and most would believe.
The big challenge is to get the copies to the Russian population. Surely Western technology would find a way. This is simpler than reaching the moon.
Some coastal cities, including St. Petersburg and Vladivostok, could receive truth by drones launched from international waters. Maybe drones could reach inland cities. Maybe high-flying planes could deliver truth. Maybe satellites could be used.
Whatever the methods, the need is for massive delivery of truth to major Russian cities simultaneously and as soon as possible, preferably while Zelenskyy is still in office; if need be, later, but before China throws its support behind the world’s latest aggressive, but faltering, dictator.
Since nobody seems to have a better option, the time for massive pravda has come.
