By Dragan Mishev
Drawing on the work of the CIVIL Hybrid Threats Monitoring Team (CHTM)

Just one day before February 24 — the date marking four years since Russia’s unprovoked full-scale aggression against Ukraine — several Macedonian media outlets deemed it crucial to prominently share a statement by the president of the aggressor state, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. In a video address the previous evening, he congratulated Russian citizens on “Defender of the Fatherland Day,” observed on February 23.

Leading the way in amplifying Putin’s message was the state news agency Media Information Agency (MIA), which ran the headline: “Putin: Russia Will Continue to Increase the Potential and Combat Readiness of Its Armed Forces,” along with a subheading reiterating the same claim. In doing so, the agency paved the way for yet another wave of Russian propaganda narratives to enter the Macedonian media space.

Several other outlets, including national television broadcasters, quickly followed suit, publishing identical or similar headlines such as: “Putin: Russia Will Continue to Increase the Potential and Combat Readiness of Its Armed Forces,” or “Putin: The Development of Nuclear Forces Is Now Our Absolute Priority.” Some went even further with sensationalist framing: “POWERFUL MESSAGE FROM THE KREMLIN: ‘WE WILL ACT EVEN IN THE HARSHRST CONDITIONS’ – WHAT IS BEING PREPARED?” and “NUCLEAR WEAPONS AN ‘ABSOLUTE PRIORITY’ FOR PUTIN – Announces Expansion of Russia’s Combat Potential.” Such headlines served to amplify and dramatize the Russian president’s rhetoric.

This comes despite the fact that many of Putin’s previous claims have proven false — including his early assertion that Kyiv would fall within three days. Four years into the war, not only has Ukraine’s capital not been captured, but the so-called “second army of the world” has failed to secure decisive gains along other front lines, while suffering enormous losses in personnel and equipment.

Yet for a segment of the Macedonian media, Putin’s statements appear to be treated almost as gospel, reproduced uncritically and without context. Reports repeat claims that “Russia will continue to increase the potential and combat readiness of all branches of its armed forces,” even as Russia faces severe battlefield losses that it appears unable to replenish domestically — reportedly relying on ammunition and drones from North Korea and Iran, as well as foreign recruits.

Putin’s claim that Russia will continue strengthening its army and navy is also highlighted — despite the fact that Russia’s navy has lost significant assets and has been forced to pull parts of its fleet back to safer waters, wary of attacks from a country that, in practical terms, does not possess a conventional navy. As expected, nuclear threats were once again part of the messaging.

Unfortunately, four years after the start of Russia’s aggression, the uncritical transmission of statements by Putin and other senior Russian officials continues to provide fertile ground for the spread of Russian propaganda narratives in parts of the Macedonian media landscape.

On the occasion of the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale military invasion of Ukraine, and as part of ongoing efforts to counter Russian disinformation, manipulation, and malign propaganda, CIVIL – Center for Freedom convened an international online conference titled  “Four Years of Aggression: Ukraine’s Resistance and the Responsibility of the World.”

Bringing together policymakers, diplomats, journalists, analysts, and civil society leaders from across Europe and beyond, the conference delivered a clear and urgent message: this is not a moment for commemoration, but for responsibility.

CIVIL is an independent civil society organisation with long-standing expertise in countering disinformation, propaganda, and hybrid threats. In line with its mission to defend democracy and human rights, CIVIL develops and applies established analytical, policy, and strategic frameworks for use by public institutions, international organisations, and democratic stakeholders.

For further information about CIVIL’s work and publications, please contact: info@civil.mk

This analysis was prepared by Dragan Mishev, in cooperation with the CIVIL Hybrid Threats Monitoring Team (CHTM), drawing on CIVIL’s ongoing monitoring of disinformation, propaganda, and hybrid threats. The text was developed with research, analytical, and editorial support from AI tools (OpenAI / ChatGPT). The accompanying illustration was generated using AI tools based on editorial direction provided by the authors. Responsibility for all content, interpretations, and conclusions rests solely with the authors.

© CIVIL – Center for Freedom, 2026.