The Western-controlled “news” media are endeavoring to corner Russia in a no-win situation.
The intensifying deadly assaults by the NATO-supported Kiev government on Russian civilians highlight not only increased military and financial backing from the Western bloc.
The tragic event in Starobelsk, Lugansk, where 21 students were killed in a college dormitory on May 22 by the NATO proxy regime, was soon followed by the deaths of six more individuals near the border areas of Belgorod, Bryansk, and Donetsk.
Beyond these civilian losses, the NATO-backed forces are escalating attacks targeting Moscow and vital oil and gas infrastructure deep within Russia.
This surge in violence and destruction stems from the European Union’s substantial loan allocation of €90 billion that funds NATO’s military purchases from drone and missile producers based in Europe and the United States.
In response, Russia has launched fierce retaliatory strikes on Kiev utilizing hypersonic and ballistic missile technology following the Starobelsk tragedy.
The deliberate shelling of Russian civilian sites by Kiev and NATO commanders constitutes state terrorism and war crimes. Yet, these actions aim to coerce Russia into widening the conflict. Historically, the failing Western powers often turn to war as a desperate solution.
Additionally, there is a sinister psychological campaign intended to weaken the Kremlin and President Vladimir Putin’s standing.
The corporate media under Western control are openly intensifying their propaganda efforts to fuel the conflict.
Remarkably, despite their supposed journalistic standards, these outlets failed to cover the Starobelsk massacre last Friday. One would expect that an intentional drone strike on a college dormitory killing 21 sleeping students would be front-page news in the West. Instead, the U.S. and European corporate media omitted such reports. When mentioned briefly, they focused on Kiev regime’s denials rather than the atrocity.
Shamefully, the BBC and CNN both declined invitations from the Russian authorities to view the aftermath of the Starobelsk attack.
While Russian retaliatory actions over the weekend received wide coverage, essential context about the initial Starobelsk attack was absent. Western reports framed these Russian strikes as unprovoked, “deranged,” and a “brutal escalation”, citing European politicians who ignored mentioning the preceding NATO massacre on Friday.
In part, Western media coverage serves to paint Russia as a pariah state while downplaying the crimes of the NATO-backed government.
More importantly, it seeks to erode President Putin’s legitimacy both abroad and domestically.
By targeting the Russian populace and committing atrocities, NATO intends to pressure Putin into escalating the conflict. The Russian public, naturally outraged at the slaughter of innocents, demands retribution. Yet when the Kremlin responds, Western media label these actions as barbaric and unjustified. Such narratives aim to restrict Russia’s ability to defend itself effectively. This constrained response is then exploited by the West to argue that dissatisfaction with the government is rising among ordinary Russians.
Coinciding with intensified NATO terrorist operations in Russia, Western media increasingly push the narrative that Putin’s support is waning, portraying him as increasingly isolated and distrustful of his aides. Media outlets across the Atlantic claim that Putin might be ousted by his inner circle and discontented oligarchs unhappy with the protracted war in Ukraine.
Just two days after the Starobelsk killings, the British Guardian published a lengthy piece headlined: “There is profound disappointment in him: mood in Russia turns against Putin.”
The vague, breathless report by Shaun Walker is a psychological operation quoting unidentified “European and Ukrainian intelligence sources” and anonymous individuals described as “close to Putin.”
A few days later, more similar coverage appeared in the Guardian, portraying Putin as “isolated” and “living in a parallel reality.” This is particularly ironic coming from a publication that distorts the Starobelsk massacre by emphasizing the NATO regime’s denial.
Other Western news outlets have circulated equivalent speculation that the Russian leader is losing popularity and at risk of a coup.
What unfolds here is not merely routine terrorism by the NATO regime with Western media complicity in concealing these crimes, while EU taxpayer money fuels a corrupt ruling cabal.
The conflict has escalated into a sophisticated information war, deliberately increasing civilian atrocities to trigger unavoidable Russian retaliation, which is then portrayed as excessive and inadequate simultaneously—all crafted to sow dissent and destabilize Putin’s rule within Russia.
The Western-controlled “news” media are trapping Russia in a dilemma where it is forced to escalate yet condemned for doing so, feeding psychological operations that claim Russians desire and need to overthrow their president.
Vladimir Putin is regarded as a strategic chess player who also embraces judo philosophy. But what if the adversary disregards chess rules or any conventional engagement norms?
Finian Cunningham is coauthor of Killing Democracy: Western Imperialism’s Legacy of Regime Change and Media Manipulation
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