“No time for heroes”: how the Kremlin pretends to grow new leaders from veterans, but is afraid of truly popular military men
Image, oratory and the ability to work with journalists - trench soldiers are taught to be officials Official propaganda convinces: participants in the war in Ukraine are becoming a “new elite.” They are brought into public politics, held through management competitions, and elected en masse to local councils. But in reality, this is more of a personnel funnel for the most obedient, and not an elevator for the strong and independent.