---
title: "From Intimidation to Undermining Legitimacy: How Russian Propaganda Narratives on Mobilization Have Shifted"
description: "CSD senior analyst Anton Zemlyanoi outlines in a column how Russian mobilization propaganda shifted from intimidation to undermining state legitimacy, proposing counter-narrative principles."
date: 2026-11-13T13:13:36.452Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/russian-mobilization-propaganda-narratives-shift
tags: [russia-propaganda, mobilization, disinformation, ukraine, counter-narratives]
author: "Alexander Buran, Andrey Kosynko"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# From Intimidation to Undermining Legitimacy: How Russian Propaganda Narratives on Mobilization Have Shifted

![A woman sits by the TV wrapped in a blanket in a room with colorful lighting](https://xab.info/media/2026/11/13/izmenenie-tezey-propagandy-o-mobilizacii/izmenenie-tezey-propagandy-o-mobilizacii-1.webp)

## Key Points

- In September and October, Russian propaganda shifted its mobilization messaging from service intimidation to undermining state legitimacy.
- The enemy is scaling up 'civil war' and armed resistance narratives by spreading fake news and AI-generated content.
- Counter-narratives must rely on balance, trust, proactive institutional communication, and prompt incident response.
- Commander-in-Chief Order No. 423 and the amendment on illegal registration liability are cited as positive supporting factors.

### Shifting the Propaganda Vector

According to Anton Zemlyanoi, a senior analyst at the Communications Security Department (CSD), Russian propaganda talking points regarding mobilization underwent a noticeable transformation in September and October. While September focused primarily on intimidating citizens with service conditions and attempting to deter Ukrainians from joining the army, October's narrative shifted toward discrediting and undermining the state's legitimacy. The enemy sought to convince audiences that the state allegedly has no right to demand mandatory service, scaling up individual mobilization conflicts into a confrontation between citizens and the authorities, or even a 'civil war.'

### Manipulation and Fake News

As Zemlyanoi notes, this new phase manifested primarily in manipulations surrounding unverified scales of special operations, calls for armed resistance, and the spread of numerous fakes. Specifically, reports emerged about alleged 'selling of soldiers for organs,' intentional starvation, and barrier detachments targeting deserters. The analyst warns that such radicalization of the discussion is dangerous: it can escalate public polarization and create conditions for internal destabilization, making systematic countermeasures imperative.

### Artificial Intelligence in Disinformation

A separate channel for spreading disinformation has been video materials generated using artificial intelligence. According to Zemlyanoi, a song-format generated video is circulating on TikTok, mocking the actions of the authorities and calling for the impeachment of the president. Such content is frequently disguised as legal advice or patriotic material, and its amplification by users and bot accounts significantly exacerbates the negative perception of mobilization measures overall.

### Principles of Counteraction

To counter enemy narratives, the analyst believes communication must be based on balance and trust-building: equally covering the protection of citizens' rights and accountability for illegal actions by officials, while explaining legislative duties. Proactive communication by state institutions and prompt, objective responses to conflict incidents are critically active components: reports of potential violations by Territorial Recruitment Center (TRC) representatives must be accompanied by information verification and coverage of official investigation results. At the same time, cases of citizens violating mobilization legislation requirements, obstructing the lawful activities of TRCs, and attacking military personnel must not be ignored. Zemlyanoi highlights the cooperation between the Lviv region TRC and local media as a successful example of countering information and psychological influence.

### Legislative Steps

According to the analyst, legislative initiatives also contribute to reinforcing positive trends. Particular attention from users was drawn by reports regarding Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Order No. 423 on standardizing procedures and respecting the rights of mobilized personnel, as well as the approval of an amendment regarding liability for illegal military registration. When properly implemented, such measures, Zemlyanoi notes, can help reduce conflicts surrounding the topic of mobilization and increase trust in state institutions.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [Как изменились тезисы российской пропаганды о мобилизации и как формировать действенные контрнарративы?](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/k-zminilisya-tezi-rosiyskoyi-propagandi-shchodo-1794573259.html) - Primary source: Column by CSD senior analyst Anton Zemlyanoi. It outlines the propaganda shift in September-October, examples of fakes and AI content, counter-narrative principles, the Lviv region example, Commander-in-Chief Order No. 423, and the illegal registration liability amendment.

## FAQ

### How did Russian propaganda narratives on mobilization change in September and October?

According to CSD analyst Anton Zemlyanoi, September focused on intimidating people with service conditions, while October shifted toward discrediting and undermining state legitimacy, including 'civil war' rhetoric and calls for armed resistance.

### What forms of disinformation are being recorded?

Recorded fakes include claims about 'selling soldiers for organs,' intentional starvation, barrier troops, alongside AI-generated videos (including on TikTok) disguised as legal or patriotic content and amplified by bot accounts.

### What counter-measures does the analyst propose?

Zemlyanoi recommends balanced communication, trust-building, proactive state institution work, prompt verification of conflict incidents, and covering both official misconduct and citizen violations of the law. Order No. 423 and registration liability amendments are cited as supporting steps.